Productivity losses from short-term work absence due to neoplasms in Poland

Abstract

Previous evidence on productivity losses from neoplasms focuses mostly on the economic burden from mortality, covers single cancer diagnoses and neglects non-malignant neoplasms. This study aims to broaden this perspective by analysing losses resulting from work absence and all neoplasm diagnoses. The analysis applies the human capital method and social insurance data to estimate productivity losses attributable to neoplasm-related short-term work absence in Poland in the period 2012–2022. The productivity losses due to work absence attributable to all neoplasms in Poland were €583 million in 2012 (0.143% of gross domestic product) and they increased to €969 million in 2022 (0.164%). Around 60% of the losses were associated with cancers while the remaining part of the burden was due to non-malignant neoplasms. The neoplasms that led to the highest losses were benign neoplasms, breast cancer, colorectum cancer and prostate cancer. The cancer sites characterised by the greatest losses per absence episode were brain cancer, lung cancer and oesophageal cancer. For most of the neoplasms, we observed increasing losses in an 11-year period analysed. Investing in effective public health policies that tackle neoplasms has the potential to reduce both the health burden and economic losses resulting from these diseases.