Cost analysis of18F-FDG PET-CT from the perspective of the Brazilian Unified National Health System as healthcare provider: a study in a public healthcare center in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Positron emission tomography (PET) has been introduced recently in Brazil and requires costs analysis to support economic evaluation studies on its use. The current study analyzed the use of 18 F-FDG PET-CT and estimated its costs from the perspective of a public healthcare provider. The micro-costing technique was used, identifying, quantifying, and valuing all the inputs used to perform the procedure. Cost estimates considered 85 tests performed at the Brazilian National Cancer Institute from March to June 2012. Reference cases were defined as adult cancer patients, output of five tests per day, and one dose of 18 F-FDG per patient. Unit cost for the procedure was BRL 3,150.30 based on career wages under the Ministry of Science and Technology and BRL 2,927.19 based on Ministry of Health career wages. The factor with the heaviest cost impact was daily output of tests. Other factors that could impact the test's cost in public healthcare institutions were also examined.