Drug utilization pattern and cost analysis of anticancer drugs among cancer patients attending a tertiary cancer hospital in Nepal: A cross-sectional study

The study examined the prescribing pattern and costs of anticancer drugs in 151 cancer patients treated at an oncology hospital in Bhaktapur, Nepal. The mean patient age was 53.81 years, with 67.5% female patients. Breast cancer was the most common diagnosis (26.5%). Patients received an average of 10.56 total drugs, of which 1.72 were anticancer agents. Almost all drugs (99.85%) were prescribed as generics. The mean actual treatment cost was NPR 15,245 per patient, substantially lower than the maximum retail price (NPR 38,803). Costs varied significantly among patients and were not reliably explained by the examined factors. The study recommends continued surveillance of drug prescribing practices and greater attention to adherence with the essential medicines list.