Economic Evaluation of Telemedicine, Remote Consultations, Monitoring and Supportive Care for Invasive Ductal Carcinoma Care in Nigeria.

This study examines the application of telemedicine in the treatment of Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (IDC) which today is the most common type of breast cancer that makes up 70-80 percent of breast cancer cases worldwide and 22.7% of the total number of cancers in Nigeria. It also examined the challenges of IDC care delivery in Nigeria, which are associated with the poor state of infrastructure, poverty level, and geographical inaccessibility. Bio-demographic data in selected health facilities across Lagos and Ogun States were collected to compared costs and health outcomes between patients receiving traditional in-person care and those utilizing telehealth platforms. Results revealed that while transportation and internet costs were not significantly different, telemedicine significantly reported reduced consultation fees (p = 0.00126) and zero accommodation expenses (p = 0.00021), making it suitable and cost-effective compared to the traditional method of the consultation. In addition to financial gains, telemedicine facilitated prompt consultations, reduced travel burdens, and enhanced continuity of care. Nevertheless impediments like the low penetration of the internet, frequent power outages and low level of awareness was observed in the study especially in rural areas. The study concludes that telemedicine is not a replacement but a complementary model that can improve accessibility, affordability, and quality of cancer care. The study recommends the establishment of a national tele-oncology framework, subsidizing digital access for low-income patients, and developing hybrid care models integrating telehealth with in-person services.