Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1 Assistant professor, pharmaceutical administration, Department of Pharmacoeconomics and pharmaceutical administration, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
2 Associate Professor, Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
3 Professor, Educational Planning , Health Management and Economic Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
4 MSc. Department of Public Administration, Islamic Azad University, Esfahan (Isfahan), Esfahan, Iran
Abstract
Introduction: Costing and cost analysis in health care section is very important in health care management from microeconomic point of view. Various studies have shown that the most common cancer among children is leukemia. Likewise the most prevalent form of leukemia in children under 15 years old is acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL). The aim of this study was to determine the direct medical costs of ALL among children between 1-15 years old in Isfahan - Iran. Methods: This study is a cross-sectional and descriptive study. The samples were all registered patients in Seyed Alshohada Hospital from 20th March 2007 to 21st march 2012 who were suffering from ALL. Their medical records were reviewed and all required data including the type and cost of services were extracted. Health care services were categorized into diagnostic, inpatient and outpatient services. The cost of each category was calculated and standardized based on inflation rate in order to avoid cost miscalculation. Version 18th of the SPSS software was used for statistical analysis. Results: The profile of 252 subjects were reviewed; but considering the inclusion and exclusion criteria, only 106 subjects were included in our study; in which 106 patients received the main course of the treatment and 35 of them obtained the complementary course of the treatment at the hospital. 55.7 % of the patients were boys. The median of the direct medical cost per patient was 136,040,789 I R Rials for the main course treatment in the year 2012 and 78,835,624 Rials IRR for the complementary therapies based on public medical tariffs. However when considering the private medical tariffs the total direct medical cost of treatment was estimated at 610000000 IR Rials. The medication cost was the major cost component of the treatment. Conclusion: Total direct medical costs of ALL based on public medal tariffs was equal to 214876413 IR Rials. However, considering the hidden subsidy in public sector, it seems that the figure of 610 Million IR Rials is more realistic costs of managing ALL patients in Iran.
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