Quality of Life and Functional Status as Criteria in Assessment of Therapies for Inclusion in Cancer Drug List

Dr Tan Wu Meng asked the Minister for Health whether, in the assessment of the cost effectiveness of therapies for inclusion in the Cancer Drug List, the Ministry takes into consideration the outcome of the treatment on the quality of life and functional status of the patients which has a bearing on family care duties at home and improving the employability of household members who are caregivers.

The Agency for Care Effectiveness under the Ministry of Health adopts internationally established techniques for conducting Health Technology Assessment (HTA) methodology to assess the clinical and cost effectiveness of therapies, including cancer drugs.

The assessment includes direct and measurable health-related costs and the patient’s health outcomes, including quality of life. Non-health related costs and benefits are typically not included in HTA assessment as they are subjective and harder to measure. That said, the thresholds for passing HTA assessment can be suitably set to take into account these factors.