Short Inter-Treatment Interval Treatment With Artificial Liver Support System Reduces 90-Day Transplant-Free Mortality in Patients With Hepatitis B Virus-Related Acute-On-Chronic Liver Failure: A Retr

Cancer is a leading global health concern, not only due to its high mortality but also because of the complexity of care and associated long-term treatment costs. By 2030, more than 22 million people worldwide are expected to be diagnosed with cancer annually []. Unlike many acute illnesses, cancer often requires prolonged and intensive treatment, placing considerable financial demands on patients, families, and healthcare systems [, ]. These financial pressures are increasingly recognised as part of the broader supportive care burden faced by people living with cancer []. Globally, households affected by chronic illnesses, including cancer, face considerable out-of-pocket healthcare costs [, ]. In high-income countries, these households spend an estimated 16% of their annual income on care, while in low-income countries the figure is 42% []. When healthcare expenses exceed a household’s ability to pay, commonly defined as more than 10% of income, they are considered catastrophic [, ]. Around 150 million people worldwide experience catastrophic health expenditure each year, with the greatest burden observed in low- and middle-income settings [, , ], although the issue is increasingly evident in high-income countries as well. In Australia, where healthcare is partially subsidised through public insurance, individuals still contribute significantly to their medical expenses [, , , ]. In 2022–23, Australians paid 15.4% of total healthcare expenditure out-of-pocket, averaging AU$1,476 per person []. These costs can limit access to care: nearly one in four Australians with chronic illness report delaying or avoiding care due to cost [], and cost-related avoidance of primary care physician visits has increased from 5.0% in 2014–15 to 8.8% in 2023–24 []. Financial hardship is especially pronounced among socioeconomically disadvantaged groups; between 2006 and 2014, nearly 30% of individuals in the lowest income decile experienced catastrophic health expenditures []. These trends raise concerns about the affordability and equity of healthcare access in Australia [, –].