Cost Analysis of Tuberculosis Directly Observed Treatment Strategy at Chest Dispensaries in Egypt

Authors

1 Epidemiology and Community Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University

2 Health Insurance Organization, CAIROEGYPT

3 Epidemiology and Community Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University,

Abstract

Background: The study aimed to help the National Tuberculosis Control Program in promotion of DOTS strategy in Egypt. The specific objectives were to calculate the annual costs per TB case treated and TB case cured at the chest dispensary service delivery mode. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted in El-Dakahlia governorate at 5 chest dispensaries and the crosssectional analytic research design was utilized to investigate the current research issue. As a prerequisite for the proper research design a survey of literature has been carried out and covered the various methodological approaches of epidemiological and health economics investigations. Also, an exploratory study was carried out during the research-planning phase. Four different types of data collection instruments were used (Clients’ Flow, Capital, Recurrent, and Outcome Questionnaires) to collect the required data. Results: Analysis of data revealed that the annual costs per treated TB case and cured TB case were LE 157±150 and 198±190 respectively. Conclusion: The study concluded that the implementation of DOTS strategy required more resources than the routinely managed chest cases at the studied units. Recurrent cost was the most important element in the calculation of the final cost per outcome ratios especially those of drugs and chemicals followed by the annualized capital and personnel costs. We recommended the decision makers to conduct more studies at the different geographical areas and service delivery modes to get the full picture of DOTS strategy implementation in Egypt for future development and improvement. (Tanaffos 2004; 3(11): 45-54)

Keywords

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics