Alex Bastian Discusses the Financial Burden Cancer Patients Bear

Costs have a huge impact on patients and financial toxicity, particularly in cancer care, is being given greater consideration now, according to Alex Bastian, MBA, senior vice president at GfK.

Medication adherence becomes an issue for the health system as patients who cannot afford their treatment simply does not take it, he said. However, he noted that there are perverse examples where patients want a drug the more expensive it is.

"So I don't think we've necessarily cracked this nut," Mr Bastian said. "And I think it's something that the medical community, as well as patients, have to work together to find better responses."