Cancer diseases in the public health system from the perspective of the well-being economy - the human capital theory approach

Purpose: This paper explores the challenges of transitioning to well-being economy the problem of cancer diseases from the perspective of public health and human capital theory. The research question is how to achieve the standard of public health according to DET requirements, decreasing the level of cancer diseases. Methodology/Approach: The research utilises the concept of doughnut economics theory (DET) and neoclassical model consumer optimisation connected with New Public Health Theory (NPHT) and selected elements of human capital approach. Findings: Optimization of public health policy, taking into account cancer diseases, implies the optimum in accordance with Gossen's second law and requires determining the opportunity cost of expenditure on treatment and prevention in comparison with lost benefits in the form of wages and other indirect costs. Research Limitations/Implications: Due to the limited volume of the article, the American market was only analysed as the most developed one. Practical Implications: An optimisation model was created for the use in a developed public health system. Social Implications: The possibility of using the model in public health policy in the well-being economy. Originality/Value: An original calculation of the costs of cancer diseases was made based on the cost of lost wages and behavioural factors shaping their prevention and treatment costs were identified.