Trends in the Cost and Utilization of Publicly Reimbursed Cancer Medications Dispensed as Take-Home Treatments from 2017–2021

Background
The cost and uptake of cancer medications dispensed as take-home treatments are not well understood.

Objective
This study analyzed trends and the impact of COVID-19 on the utilization and cost of take-home cancer medications dispensed through the public payer system in Ontario, Canada.

Methods
We conducted a repeated cross-sectional time-series analysis examining monthly and fiscal-year trends in the utilization and cost of take-home cancer medications reimbursed by the public payer between 1 April 2017 and 31 March 2021, in Ontario, Canada. 


Results
Annual per-beneficiary spending on take-home cancer medications rose by 32.8% over the study period, largely due to costly small-molecule targeted therapies and immunotherapies, which made up three quarters of public spending in 2020/21 but were used by less than 8% of beneficiaries. A temporary drop in spending occurred from March to June 2020, following the COVID-19 emergency declaration, driven by more beneficiaries receiving lower-cost cytotoxic and hormonal therapies without increased public spending.

Conclusion
Future research should investigate barriers to the widespread uptake of take-home cancer medications during periods of public emergencies, particularly for high-cost drugs.

Citation
Garg R, Dumont T, McCormack D, Tadrous M, Campbell T, Chan K, Gomes T. (2025). Trends in the cost and utilization of publicly reimbursed cancer medications dispensed as take-home treatments from 2017–2021. Current Oncology, 32(4), 237.

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