Research Impact
- The Economics of Cancer Collaboration (EOCC) between Deakin Health Economics and Cancer Council Victoria (CCV) is estimated to have potentially saved more than 52,000 life years, and $179 million in healthcare costs over the lifetime of Australians. This is largely due to continued provision of key CCV initiatives including Quitline, SunSmart and ongoing media campaigns, which have been underpinned by the EOCC’s research into the cost-effectiveness and economic impact of these and other CCV health services.
- Economic evaluation of the Victorian Quitline service led to increased funding from 2018 for a further five years, which is estimated to have aided more than 40,000 people to quit smoking.
- An EOCC assessment of a 2010 public education mass media campaign undertaken in Victoria by CCV on sugary drinks demonstrated that a $10 million investment led to $51 million savings in healthcare costs. The findings inspiring a subsequent ’13 Types of Cancer’ campaign, and a $39 million pre-election commitment.
- Data collected on the impact of skin cancers on hospitalisations in Victoria was “instrumental” in securing funding. The SunSmart program is projected to yield more than $35 million worth of healthcare savings, save 27,700 life years, and prevent more than 35,000 skin cancers between 2011 and 2030 in Victoria.
- World-first research into the economic and social value of CCV’s cancer telephone support services is guiding future funding and service delivery. It is estimated this service will connect more than one million cancer patients and carers to telehealth teams and essential services.
The Need/Challenge
Every year, more than 35,500 Victorians will be diagnosed with cancer, and 11,000 will die from cancer. Since its establishment in 1936, Cancer Council Victoria (CCV) has played a leading role in reducing the impact of all cancers on all people. Through prevention, detection, care and research, it aims to reduce both the incidence and burden of cancer on society.
Facing the complexity of addressing dozens of different cancer types, it is critical for Cancer Council Victoria to have the ability to measure the benefits and cost-effectiveness of its evidence-based programs and systems. This assists CCV to demonstrate delivered value to stakeholders and is critical to ensuring the continuation of funding and support for its programs. In-depth analysis of economic value also assists CCV in identifying opportunities to improve program outcomes within budget constraints.
Developing the solution
The Economics of Cancer Collaboration (EOCC) was officially launched in 2017, stemming from successful prior projects between the Institute for Health Transformation’s Deakin Health Economics team and Cancer Council Victoria. The collaboration is co-led by Associate Professor Nikki McCaffrey, Head of Economics of Cancer at Deakin University, and Todd Harper, CEO of Cancer Council Victoria. The EOCC was funded in 2017 for an initial five-year period (2017-2021) to generate innovative, high-quality research, and contribute to policy development in cancer economics.
The collaboration investigates the cost-effectiveness and economic impact of health services related to cancer screening, prevention, treatment, and patient support. Its economic evaluations systematically compare the costs and benefits of alternative courses of action, thereby providing vital information on how best to improve outcomes within funding constraints to inform healthcare providers, funders and policy makers. Economic analyses, such as cost-of-illness and “what if” prediction modelling, also provide valuable estimates of the cost and health impacts of cancer to society.
The EOCC provides essential economic evidence to state and national governments, philanthropists and service providers, which has proven crucial for sustaining funding in cancer care amidst budget limitations.
The collaboration was extended to 2023 due to initial success which saw significant returns on Cancer Council Victoria’s investment. The partnership then entered a new phase with renewed commitment until 2027, supported by Cancer Council Victoria investment and in-kind support from Deakin University.
Uniquely, the EOCC integrates diverse expertise, strategic investment in research capacity, a rigorous focus on economic evaluation, and active stakeholder engagement, leading to a demonstrable impact on policy and practice. These elements collectively position the EOCC as a key initiative in advancing the economic understanding and management of cancer.
A key feature to the success of the collaboration has been a commitment to building capacity through a co-funded Senior Research Fellow. Embedding a health economist, Assoc Prof McCaffery, in the work of Cancer Council Victoria has ensured continuity and depth in exploring new methodologies and expanding the scope of economic evaluations related to cancer care. By situating a researcher across both organizations, the EOCC has gained joint insights and a comprehensive understanding of cancer care research.
An emphasis on robust economic evidence – beyond clinical outcomes – assesses cost-effectiveness, productivity impacts, and economic benefits of health interventions. This informs advocacy efforts, critical policy decisions and resource allocations. The EOCC also actively engages stakeholders through symposia, forums, and training sessions; by disseminating findings; building capacity within Cancer Council Victoria; and influencing broader public health agendas.
Outcomes
The EOCC partnership is estimated to have potentially saved more than 52,000 life years, and $179 million in healthcare costs over the lifetime of Australians, largely due to continued provision of key initiatives including Quitline, SunSmart and ongoing media campaigns.
Since its launch in 2017, the EOCC has been successful in attracting $2.3 million research funding, has published 16 works, given 40 presentations, and informed clinical guidance, education, policy briefs and education curricula.
An example of the success of this collaboration is its direct impact on the Victorian Quitline service. As a result of an economic evaluation applied to 2015 service costs and benefits, Quitline received increased funding from 2018 for a further five years, which is estimated to have aided more than 40,000 people to quit smoking. Former Quit Director Dr Sarah White noted: “Funding for Quitline was increased in 2018, and I think that was due to us being able to demonstrate not just effectiveness in quitting, but additionally how much the Quitline was saving the Victorian health system.” In addition, the economic evaluation supplied by EOCC influenced national and international policy documents and education curricula, plus producing economic models, peer-reviewed publications, presentations, and government briefings. It also inspired three additional tobacco control evaluations, and supported a $600,000 Victorian Cancer Agency Fellowship in 2020.
Additionally, the EOCC’s evaluation of the Victorian Sugary Drink Public Education Mass Media Campaign was able to demonstrate that a $10 million investment in a 2010 modelled campaign had resulted in $51 million savings in healthcare costs, and extended 2744 life years. These findings inspired CCV’s subsequent ‘13 Types of Cancer’ campaign, and secured a $39 million pre-election commitment for a subsequent mass media campaign. The research also influenced a national analysis, prompted a commissioned economic evaluation of a WA campaign, produced economic models and conference presentations, and informed policy briefs and engagement with government.
An estimate of the impact of skin cancers on hospitalisations in Victoria produced by the EOCC revealed critical data points and costs. As Emma Glassenbury, Head of SunSmart, noted: “These data have been instrumental in SunSmart’s advocacy efforts, utilised in correspondence with key stakeholders in securing continued funding for the program.” The SunSmart program is projected to yield more than $35 million worth of healthcare savings, save 27,700 life years, and prevent more than 35,000 skin cancers between 2011 and 2030 in Victoria.
The EOCC also attracted a $1.2 million investment in world-first research to demonstrate the economic and social value of CCV’s cancer telephone support services. This research is guiding future funding and service delivery, and it is estimated this service will connect more than one million cancer patients and carers to telehealth teams and essential services.
“By using strong economic evidence, these initiatives show cost-effectiveness and societal benefits, such as better health, lower healthcare costs and productivity losses, and improved morbidity and mortality in Victoria and beyond,” said Assoc Prof McCaffrey. “The scalability and translatability of these findings underscore their potential to further inform national strategies and inspire more valuable cancer care research.”
Project details
Project Title
Economics of Cancer collaboration
Project time period 2017 – ongoing
Research Leads
- Associate Professor Nikki McCaffrey, Head of Economics of Cancer, Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University
- Todd Harper, Chief Executive Officer, Cancer Council Victoria
Partners and supporters
- Cancer Council of Victoria
More Information
Find out more about the Economics of Cancer research stream at Deakin Health Economics
Find out more about our partnership with Cancer Council Victoria
