Introduction: This study looks at the patient’s perspective to determine the Catastrophic Health Expenditure (CHE)
level and the possible factors which can be associated with CHE in cancer patients. Methods: This cross sectional
study was done in National Cancer Institute, Malaysia with 206 patients sampled using the multilevel sampling method and data collected from interview with patients using a validated questionnaire. The CHE definition used in this
study is when the monthly health expenditure exceeds more than 10% of the monthly household income. Results:
This study showed a CHE level of 26.2%. CHE was higher in Indian ethnicity (P = 0.017), single marital status (P =
0.019), poverty income (P < 0.001), small household size (P = 0.006) and without Guarantee Letter (GL) (P = 0.002)
groups. The significant predicting factors were poverty income aOR 5.60 (95% CI: 2.34 – 13.39), home distance
near to hospital aOR 4.12 (95% CI: 1.74 – 9.76), small household size aOR 4.59 (95% CI: 1.07 – 19.72) and lack of
Guarantee Letter aOR 3.21 (95% CI: 1.24 – 8.30). Conclusion: The information from this paper can be used by policy
makers to formulate better strategies in terms of health financing so that high risk for CHE cancer patients groups can
be protected under a better health financing system.