Trastuzumab is the most recent biological therapy incorporated by the Brazilian Health Ministry for HER-2 overexpressed metastatic breast cancer treatment (2012). The aim of this study was to investigate if access to this technology is appropriate.

We performed a web-based questionnaire, which received answers from October 2016 to April 2017. Oncologists that work in the care of patients with overexpressed HER-2 metastatic breast cancer were the focus of the survey. Forty-three professionals informed work location, sector (public, private or both) and trastuzumab access. This research was approved by Brazilian Ethics Committee (CAE 59076316300005260).

Among 43 valid answers, nine informed they work in the public sector, 10 in the private sector and 24 in both sectors. In total, 33 reported to work in public and 34 in private sector. We observed that 17 (51.5 percent) participants who work in the public sector do not have access to trastuzumab, while in private sector only one participant (2.9 percent) reported the lack of access to this technology for HER-2 overexpressed metastatic breast cancer treatment. Regarding the respondents who informed the lack of access, six (33.3 percent) work in Northeast Brazilian region, six (33.3 percent) in Southeast, two (11.1 percent) in South, one (5.6 percent) in Central-West and three (16.7 percent) did not give this information. Eleven respondents reported they do not have another treatment option for these patients, while seven informed access only to chemotherapy without biological therapy.

Trastuzumab is a biological therapy that can increase HER-2 overexpressed metastatic breast cancer patients overall survival by nine months on average. The questionnaire results indicate that its access in Brazil is still irregular, mainly in public sector, even five years after its incorporation by the Brazilian Health Ministry. Although universal access is one of Brazilian Public Health System main directives, there is evidence of a serious issue regarding its services equity.