the hopes of home chemotherapy are evaluated in a national experience

A targeted therapy, taken in the form of a cachet and not in a chemotherapy session at the hospital. It’s the innovative treatment that benefits Josée Durig, a patient who has been battling a recurrence of cancer. She is looking for her oral treatment in pharmacy, where health professionals are closely related to Montpellier Regional Cancer Institute. “I think it’s better to be able to be at home, it’s more pleasant than to be able to do chemistry at the hospital” explains Josée Durig.

In Montpellier, the experience concerns 300 patients, who can thus cover the visits to the hospital. This three-year experiment will concern about 15,000 people across France. 45 sites participating in the experience. Another positive, psychological point this time, the less frequent presence at the hospital benefits beneficially on morale and well-being from illness. Even if the treatments remain heavy and are given under high supervision, with precise follow-up. “These are a priori of treatments that one takes for life” explains Professor Xavier Quantin, of the Montpeliier Regional Cancer Institute.

To guarantee the success of this oral chemotherapy, there must be a good follow-up of patients, a collaboration between the pharmacists who will deliver the prescriptions and the medical teams. Consultations are also planned to ensure follow-up. A surcharge for health insurance, even if the purpose of these treatments at home is also to reduce certain expenses, especially those related to hospitalization.

Disease insurance is part of this national experiment. It must evaluate the costs of this new charge and then define a new remuneration for hospitals, pharmacists, treating physicians and patients.