Purpose: Today, cancers have become a major cause of mortality in developed and developing countries. Among various cancers, gastric cancer imposes a huge economic burden on patients, their families, and on the health-care system. This study aimed to determine the economic burden of gastric cancer in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer Ahmad province of Iran in 2016. Methods: This was a cross-sectional cost of illness study conducted in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer Ahmad province of Iran in 2016, using a prevalence-based approach. All patients were studied using the census method (N = 110). The required data on direct medical, direct nonmedical, and indirect costs were collected using a data collection form from the patients’ medical records, tariffs of diagnostic, and therapeutic services approved by the Ministry of Health and Medical Education in 2016. Results: The total cost and burden of gastric cancer in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer Ahmad province of Iran in 2016 were $US436 237, among which the majority were direct medical costs (59%). The highest costs among direct medical costs, direct nonmedical costs, and indirect costs were, respectively, related to the costs of medications used by the patients (35%), transportation (31%), and absence of patients’ families from work and daily activities caused by patient care (56%). Conclusion: Our study has revealed for the first time high costs of gastric cancer in Iran. To decrease the total costs and burden, the following suggestions can be made: increasing insurance coverage and government subsidies for purchasing necessary medications, providing the required specialized care and services related to cancer diseases such as gastric cancer in other provincial cities rather than just in capital cities, and so on.

Introduction: Cancers have come to be one of the most significant causes of mortality in human societies today. Gastric cancer is more likely to cause more disease and more costs to the patient and the health system of the community. The present study was aimed to evaluate the burden of gastric cancer in Iran, Kohgiluyeh & Boyerahmad province in 2015. Methods: The present descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in Kohgiluyeh & Boyer-Ahmad Province of Iran in 2015. All 110 patients diagnosed with gastric cancer were studied. The patients' characteristics had been recorded in the Iran Cancer Registry System and records of patients with gastric cancer in the Health Department of Yasuj University of Medical Sciences. The required data was collected using a researcher-made data collection form and were analyzed using Excel 2013 software, assuming a zero discount rate and a steady-state weight of the patients' age. Results: The results indicated that the number of disability adjusted life years (DALYs) in the province was 754.03 years (1.06 per 1000 people), which was higher in men (1.44 per 1000) and in the age group of 60-69 years (8.29 per 1000). Conclusion: Considering the significant extent of valuable life years lost due to premature death or disability resulting from gastric cancer in the province, and the severe damage to both the family and the community, paying attention to adopting preventive policies, social and financial support for patients to prepare medicines and accommodation and establishing specialized medical centers in the cities are necessary.