Socioeconomic Burden Study

The Socioeconomic Burden Study quantifies the global economic, social, and healthcare impact of ovarian cancer.

Socioeconomic Burden of Ovarian Cancer in 11 Countries Study

The World Ovarian Cancer Coalition’s Socioeconomic Burden of Ovarian Cancer in 11 Countries Study is a groundbreaking work highlighting the comprehensive impact of ovarian cancer – a burden that extends far beyond healthcare expenditure.

This research, undertaken collaboratively by the Coalition, RTI International and the World Health Organization, evaluates the health, economic, and social burden across 11 diverse nations representing varying geographies and income levels. It builds upon the Coalition’s landmark Every Woman Study™ series, which documented the patient experiences of almost 4,000 women in 2018 and 2024.

Topline global results were presented at the Union for International Cancer Control’s (UICC) World Cancer Congress in Geneva in September of 2024. The full study, co-authored with the World Health Organization and RTI International, has been published in the JCO Global Oncology, an American Society of Clinical Oncology Journal and can be found here on the website of the Journal of Global Oncology.

Read the Easy-to-read Summary

Why This Study Matters

Ovarian cancer remains among the most aggressive tumours with the lowest survival probabilities. Projections are that ovarian cancer will claim more than 8 million lives from 2022 to 2050 without better prevention or control measures. Data from this Study offers pivotal evidence that allows the Coalition and our advocacy partners to engage policy makers in new ways to call for policy changes that will benefit women, their families and carers.

Tapping into our global network, we engaged key clinician experts in each of the eleven countries, whose insights proved valuable in assessing our approach and methodology. The Study provides detailed data in the eleven countries included in the analysis: Australia, Canada, Colombia, India, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Malaysia, Malawi, Nigeria, UK, US, with the low- and middle-income countries also covered in our Every Woman Study™: Low- and Middle-Income Edition.

Through this study we are able to evidence the substantial socioeconomic burden of ovarian cancer. This significantly strengthens our call for a global ovarian cancer initiative that focuses on prevention, access to rapid diagnosis a

The Findings

Total Socioeconomic Losses:

US$70 billion across 11 countries in 2023

Mortality Costs:

Over 90% of total losses, representing society’s unrealized contribution from lives lost

Healthcare Expenditure:

7% of total losses spent on treatment and care

Patient and Caregiver Impact:

Remaining losses reflect time, informal care, and productivity reductions

The Call to Action

  • Coordinated global action is urgently needed to reduce the burden of ovarian cancer, with policymakers and healthcare professionals leading the way.
  • Raising awareness of ovarian cancer is crucial in all resource settings.
  • Reduce diagnosis delays through timely screening and improved access to care.
  • Strengthen health systems and integrate ovarian cancer into National Cancer Control Programmes (NCCPs).
  • Improve access to genetic testing to support prevention and better treatment options.
  • Provide comprehensive support—physical, psychological, and vocational—to improve survivor outcomes.
  • Recognise and support caregivers through counselling and therapy to enhance quality of life for all.

Study Resources

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