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Aashima, Sharma R. An Examination of Inter-State Variation in Utilization of Healthcare Services, Associated Financial Burden and Inequality: Evidence from Nationally Representative Survey in India. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH AND HEALTH SERVICES 2024; 54:206-223. [PMID: 38465616 DOI: 10.1177/27551938241230761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
This study examines the health care utilization pattern, associated financial catastrophes, and inequality across Indian states to understand the subnational variations and aid the policy makers in this regard. Data from recent National Sample Survey (2017-2018), titled, "Household Social Consumption: Health," covering 113,823 households, was employed in the study. Descriptive statistics, Erreygers concentration index (CI), and recentered influence function decomposition were applied in the study. We found that, in India, 7 percent of households experienced catastrophic health expenditure (CHE) and 1.9 percent of households were pushed below poverty line due to out-of-pocket expenditure on hospitalization. Notably, outpatient care was more burdensome (CHE: 12.1%; impoverishment: 4%). Substantial interstate variations were observed, with high financial burden in poorer states. Utilization of health care services from private health care providers was pro-rich (hospitalization CI 0.31; outpatient CI 0.10), while the occurrence of CHE incidence was pro-poor (hospitalization CI -0.10; outpatient CI -0.14). Education level, economic status, health insurance, and area of residence contributed significantly to inequalities in utilization of health care services from private providers and financial burden. The high financial burden of seeking health care necessitates the need to increase public health spending and strengthen public health infrastructure. Also, concerted efforts directed towards increasing awareness about health insurance and introducing comprehensive health insurance products (covering both inpatient and outpatient services) are imperative to augment financial risk protection in India.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aashima
- University School of Management and Entrepreneurship, Delhi Technological University, New Delhi, India
| | - Rajesh Sharma
- Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, National Institute of Technology Kurukshetra, Haryana, India
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Sriram S, Albadrani M. Do hospitalizations push households into poverty in India: evidence from national data. F1000Res 2024; 13:205. [PMID: 38606206 PMCID: PMC11007365 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.145602.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction High percentage of OOP (Out-of-Pocket) costs can lead to poverty and exacerbate existing poverty, with 21.9% of India's 1.324 billion people living below the poverty line. Factors such as increased patient cost-sharing, high-deductible health plans, and expensive medications contribute to high OOP costs. Understanding the poverty-inducing impact of healthcare payments is essential for formulating effective measures to alleviate it. Methods The study used data from the 75th round of the National Sample Survey Organization (Household Social Consumption in India: Health) from July 2017-June 2018, focusing on demographic-socio-economic characteristics, morbidity status, healthcare utilization, and expenditure. The analysis included 66,237 hospitalized individuals in the last 365 days. Logistic regression model was used to examine the impact of OOP expenditures on impoverishment. Results Logistic regression analysis shows that there is 0.2868 lower odds of experiencing poverty due to OOP expenditures in households where there is the presence of at least one child aged 5 years and less present in the household compared to households who do not have any children. There is 0.601 higher odds of experiencing poverty due to OOP expenditures in urban areas compared to households in rural areas. With an increasing duration of stay in the hospital, there is a higher odds of experiencing poverty due to OOP health expenditures. There is 1.9013 higher odds of experiencing poverty due to OOP expenditures if at least one member in the household used private healthcare facility compared to households who never used private healthcare facilities. Conclusion In order to transfer demand from private to public hospitals and reduce OOPHE, policymakers should restructure the current inefficient public hospitals. More crucially, there needs to be significant investment in rural areas, where more than 70% of the poorest people reside and who are more vulnerable to OOP expenditures because they lack coping skills.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shyamkumar Sriram
- Department of Social and Public Health, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, 45701, USA
| | - Muayad Albadrani
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, Taibah University, Medina, Al Madinah Province, Saudi Arabia
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Rahman T, Gasbarro D, Alam K, Alam K. Rural‒urban disparities in household catastrophic health expenditure in Bangladesh: a multivariate decomposition analysis. Int J Equity Health 2024; 23:43. [PMID: 38413959 PMCID: PMC10898052 DOI: 10.1186/s12939-024-02125-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rural‒urban disparity in catastrophic healthcare expenditure (CHE) is a well-documented challenge in low- and middle-income countries, including Bangladesh, limiting financial protection and hindering the achievement of the Universal Health Coverage target of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. However, the factors driving this divide remain poorly understood. Therefore, this study aims to identify the key determinants of the rural‒urban disparity in CHE incidence in Bangladesh and their changes over time. METHODS We used nationally representative data from the latest three rounds of the Bangladesh Household Income and Expenditure Survey (2005, 2010, and 2016). CHE incidence among households seeking healthcare was measured using the normative food, housing, and utilities method. To quantify covariate contributions to the rural‒urban CHE gap, we employed the Oaxaca-Blinder multivariate decomposition approach, adapted by Powers et al. for nonlinear response models. RESULTS CHE incidence among rural households increased persistently during the study period (2005: 24.85%, 2010: 25.74%, 2016: 27.91%) along with a significant (p-value ≤ 0.01) rural‒urban gap (2005: 9.74%-points, 2010: 13.94%-points, 2016: 12.90%-points). Despite declining over time, substantial proportions of CHE disparities (2005: 87.93%, 2010: 60.44%, 2016: 61.33%) are significantly (p-value ≤ 0.01) attributable to endowment differences between rural and urban households. The leading (three) covariate categories consistently contributing significantly (p-value ≤ 0.01) to the CHE gaps were composition disparities in the lowest consumption quintile (2005: 49.82%, 2010: 36.16%, 2016: 33.61%), highest consumption quintile (2005: 32.35%, 2010: 15.32%, 2016: 18.39%), and exclusive reliance on informal healthcare sources (2005: -36.46%, 2010: -10.17%, 2016: -12.58%). Distinctively, the presence of chronic illnesses in households emerged as a significant factor in 2016 (9.14%, p-value ≤ 0.01), superseding the contributions of composition differences in household heads with no education (4.40%, p-value ≤ 0.01) and secondary or higher education (7.44%, p-value ≤ 0.01), which were the fourth and fifth significant contributors in 2005 and 2010. CONCLUSIONS Rural‒urban differences in household economic status, educational attainment of household heads, and healthcare sources were the key contributors to the rural‒urban CHE disparity between 2005 and 2016 in Bangladesh, with chronic illness emerging as a significant factor in the latest period. Closing the rural‒urban CHE gap necessitates strategies that carefully address rural‒urban variations in the characteristics identified above.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taslima Rahman
- Murdoch Business School, Murdoch University, Perth, WA, 6150, Australia.
- Institute of Health Economics, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, 1000, Bangladesh.
| | - Dominic Gasbarro
- Murdoch Business School, Murdoch University, Perth, WA, 6150, Australia
| | - Khorshed Alam
- School of Business, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, QLD, 4350, Australia
| | - Khurshid Alam
- Murdoch Business School, Murdoch University, Perth, WA, 6150, Australia
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Brindley C, Wijemunige N, Dieteren C, Bom J, Meessen B, Bonfrer I. Health seeking behaviours and private sector delivery of care for non-communicable diseases in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review. BMC Health Serv Res 2024; 24:127. [PMID: 38263128 PMCID: PMC10807218 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-023-10464-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Globally, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of mortality and morbidity placing a huge burden on individuals, families and health systems, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This rising disease burden calls for policy responses that engage the entire health care system. This study aims to synthesize evidence on how people with NCDs choose their healthcare providers in LMICs, and the outcomes of these choices, with a focus on private sector delivery. METHODS A systematic search for literature following PRISMA guidelines was conducted. We extracted and synthesised data on the determinants and outcomes of private health care utilisation for NCDs in LMICs. A quality and risk of bias assessment was performed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT). RESULTS We identified 115 studies for inclusion. Findings on determinants and outcomes were heterogenous, often based on a particular country context, disease, and provider. The most reported determinants of seeking private NCD care were patients having a higher socioeconomic status; greater availability of services, staff and medicines; convenience including proximity and opening hours; shorter waiting times and perceived quality. Transitioning between public and private facilities is common. Costs to patients were usually far higher in the private sector for both inpatient and outpatient settings. The quality of NCD care seems mixed depending on the disease, facility size and location, as well as the aspect of quality assessed. CONCLUSION Given the limited, mixed and context specific evidence currently available, adapting health service delivery models to respond to NCDs remains a challenge in LMICs. More robust research on health seeking behaviours and outcomes, especially through large multi-country surveys, is needed to inform the effective design of mixed health care systems that effectively engage both public and private providers. TRIAL REGISTRATION PROSPERO registration number CRD42022340059 .
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Affiliation(s)
- Callum Brindley
- Erasmus School of Health Policy and Management, Erasmus University Rotterdam, P.O. Box 1738, 3000, DR, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
- Erasmus Centre for Health Economics Rotterdam (EsCHER), Erasmus University Rotterdam, P.O. Box 1738, 3000, DR, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Nilmini Wijemunige
- Erasmus School of Health Policy and Management, Erasmus University Rotterdam, P.O. Box 1738, 3000, DR, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Institute for Health Policy, Colombo, Sri Lanka
| | - Charlotte Dieteren
- Erasmus School of Health Policy and Management, Erasmus University Rotterdam, P.O. Box 1738, 3000, DR, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Erasmus Centre for Health Economics Rotterdam (EsCHER), Erasmus University Rotterdam, P.O. Box 1738, 3000, DR, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Judith Bom
- Erasmus School of Health Policy and Management, Erasmus University Rotterdam, P.O. Box 1738, 3000, DR, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Erasmus Centre for Health Economics Rotterdam (EsCHER), Erasmus University Rotterdam, P.O. Box 1738, 3000, DR, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Igna Bonfrer
- Erasmus School of Health Policy and Management, Erasmus University Rotterdam, P.O. Box 1738, 3000, DR, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Erasmus Centre for Health Economics Rotterdam (EsCHER), Erasmus University Rotterdam, P.O. Box 1738, 3000, DR, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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Bayked EM, Toleha HN, Kebede SZ, Workneh BD, Kahissay MH. The impact of community-based health insurance on universal health coverage in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Glob Health Action 2023; 16:2189764. [PMID: 36947450 PMCID: PMC10035959 DOI: 10.1080/16549716.2023.2189764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ideally health insurance aims to provide financial security, promote social inclusion, and ensure equitable access to quality healthcare services for all households. Community-based health insurance has been operating in Ethiopia since 2011. However, its nationwide impact on universal health coverage has not yet been evaluated despite several studies being conducted. OBJECTIVE We evaluated the impact of Ethiopia's community-based health insurance (2012-2021) on universal health coverage. METHODS On 27 August 2022, searches were conducted in Scopus, Hinari, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Semantic Scholar. Twenty-three studies were included. We used the Joana Briggs Institute checklists to assess the risk of bias. We included cross-sectional and mixed studies with low and medium risk. The data were processed in Microsoft Excel and analyzed using RevMan-5. The impact was measured first on insured households and then on insured versus uninsured households. We used a random model to measure the effect estimates (odds ratios) with a p value < 0.05 and a 95% CI. RESULTS The universal health coverage provided by the scheme was 45.6% (OR = 1.92, 95% CI: 1.44-2.58). Being a member of the scheme increased universal health coverage by 24.8%. The healthcare service utilization of the beneficiaries was 64.5% (OR = 1.95, 95% CI: 1.29-2.93). The scheme reduced catastrophic health expenditure by 79.4% (OR = 4.99, 95% CI: 1.27-19.67). It yielded a 92% (OR = 11.58, 95% CI: 8.12-16.51) perception of health service quality. The health-related quality of life provided by it was 63% (OR = 1.71, 95% CI: 1.50-1.94). Its population coverage was 40.1% (OR = 0.64, 95% CI: 0.41-1.02). CONCLUSION Although the scheme had positive impacts on health service issues by reducing catastrophic costs, the low universal health coverage on a limited population indicates that Ethiopia should move to a broader national scheme that covers the entire population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ewunetie Mekashaw Bayked
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences (CMHS), Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia
| | - Husien Nurahmed Toleha
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences (CMHS), Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia
| | - Seble Zewdu Kebede
- Department of Pharmacy, Dessie College of Health Sciences (DCHS), Dessie, Ethiopia
| | - Birhanu Demeke Workneh
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences (CMHS), Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia
| | - Mesfin Haile Kahissay
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Social Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Coveney L, Musoke D, Russo G. Do private health providers help achieve Universal Health Coverage? A scoping review of the evidence from low-income countries. Health Policy Plan 2023; 38:1050-1063. [PMID: 37632759 PMCID: PMC10566321 DOI: 10.1093/heapol/czad075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Universal Health Coverage (UHC) is the dominant paradigm in health systems research, positing that everyone should have access to a range of affordable health services. Although private providers are an integral part of world health systems, their contribution to achieving UHC is unclear, particularly in low-income countries (LICs). We scoped the literature to map out the evidence on private providers' contribution to UHC progress in LICs. Literature searches of PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science were conducted in 2022. A total of 1049 documents published between 2002 and 2022 were screened for eligibility using predefined inclusion criteria, focusing on formal as well as informal private health sectors in 27 LICs. Primary qualitative, quantitative and mixed-methods evidence was included, as well as original analysis of secondary data. The Joanna Briggs Institute's critical appraisal tool was used to assess the quality of the studies. Relevant evidence was extracted and analysed using an adapted UHC framework. We identified 34 papers documenting how most basic health care services are already provided through the private sector in countries such as Uganda, Afghanistan and Somalia. A substantial proportion of primary care, mother, child and malaria services are available through non-public providers across all 27 LICs. Evidence exists that while formal private providers mostly operate in well-served urban settings, informal and not-for-profit ones cater for underserved rural and urban areas. Nonetheless, there is evidence that the quality of the services by informal providers is suboptimal. A few studies suggested that the private sector fails to advance financial protection against ill-health, as costs are higher than in public facilities and services are paid out of pocket. We conclude that despite their shortcomings, working with informal private providers to increase quality and financing of their services may be key to realizing UHC in LICs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Coveney
- The Wolfson Institute of Population Health, Queen Mary University of London, 58 Turner Street, London E1 2AB, United Kingdom
| | - David Musoke
- School of Public Health, Makerere University, New Mulago Hill Road, Mulango, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Giuliano Russo
- The Wolfson Institute of Population Health, Queen Mary University of London, 58 Turner Street, London E1 2AB, United Kingdom
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Nanda M, Sharma R. A comprehensive examination of the economic impact of out-of-pocket health expenditures in India. Health Policy Plan 2023; 38:926-938. [PMID: 37409740 DOI: 10.1093/heapol/czad050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2022] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
More than 50% of health expenditure is financed through out-of-pocket payments in India, imposing a colossal financial burden on households. Amidst the rising incidence of non-communicable diseases, injuries, and an unfinished agenda of infectious diseases, this study examines comprehensively the economic impact of out-of-pocket health expenditure (OOPE) across 17 disease categories in India. Data from the latest round of the National Sample Survey (2017-18), titled 'Household Social Consumption: Health', were employed. Outcomes, namely, catastrophic health expenditure (CHE), poverty headcount ratio, distressed financing, foregone care, and loss of household earnings, were estimated. Results showed that 49% of households that sought hospitalization and/or outpatient care experienced CHE and 15% of households fell below the poverty line due to OOPE. Notably, outpatient care was more burdensome (CHE: 47.8% and impoverishment: 15.0%) than hospitalization (CHE: 43.1% and impoverishment: 10.7%). Nearly 16% of households used distressed sources to finance hospitalization-related OOPE. Cancer, genitourinary disorders, psychiatric and neurological disorders, obstetric conditions, and injuries imposed a substantial economic burden on households. OOPE and associated financial burden were higher among households where members sought care in private healthcare facilities compared with those treated in public facilities across most disease categories. The high burden of OOPE necessitates the need to increase health insurance uptake and consider outpatient services under the purview of health insurance. Concerted efforts to strengthen the public health sector, improved regulation of private healthcare providers, and prioritizing health promotion and disease prevention strategies are crucial to augment financial risk protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehak Nanda
- University School of Management and Entrepreneurship, Delhi Technological University, Vivek Vihar Phase 2, Delhi 110095, India
| | - Rajesh Sharma
- University School of Management and Entrepreneurship, Delhi Technological University, Vivek Vihar Phase 2, Delhi 110095, India
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Odunyemi A, Rahman T, Alam K. Economic burden of non-communicable diseases on households in Nigeria: evidence from the Nigeria living standard survey 2018-19. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:1563. [PMID: 37592334 PMCID: PMC10433548 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-16498-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The importance of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Nigeria is reflected in their growing burden that is fast overtaking that of infectious diseases. As most NCD care is paid for through out-of-pocket (OOP) expenses, and NCDs tend to cause substantial income losses through chronic disabilities, the rising NCD-related health burden may also be economically detrimental. Given the lack of updated national-level evidence on the economic burden of NCDs in Nigeria, this study aims to produce new evidence on the extent of financial hardship experienced by households with NCDs in Nigeria due to OOP expenditure and productivity loss. METHODS This study analysed cross-sectional data from the most recent round (2018-19) of the Nigeria Living Standard Survey (NLSS). Household-level health and consumption data were used to estimate catastrophic health expenditure (CHE) and impoverishing effects due to OOP health spending, using a more equitable method recently developed by the World Health Organization European region in 2018. The productivity loss by individuals with NCDs was also estimated from income and work-time loss data, applying the input-based human capital approach. RESULTS On average, a household with NCDs spent ₦ 122,313.60 or $ 398.52 per year on NCD care, representing 24% of household food expenditure. The study found that OOP on cancer treatment, mental problems, and renal diseases significantly contribute to the cost of NCD care. The OOP expenditure led to catastrophic and impoverishing outcomes for households. The estimations showed that about 30% of households with NCDs experienced CHE in 2018, using the WHO Europe method at the 40% threshold. The study also found that the cost of NCD medications was a significant driver of CHE among NCD-affected households. The results showed heterogeneity in CHE and impoverishment across states and geographical regions in Nigeria, with a higher concentration in rural and North East geopolitical locations. The study also found that 20% of NCD-affected households were impoverished or further impoverished by OOP payment, and another 10% were on the verge of impoverishment. The results showed a negligible rate of unmet needs among households with NCDs. CONCLUSIONS The study highlights the significant effect of NCDs on Nigerian households and the need for effective policy interventions to address this challenge, particularly among the poor and vulnerable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adelakun Odunyemi
- Murdoch Business School, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Perth, WA, 6150, Australia.
- Hospitals' Management Board, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria.
| | - Taslima Rahman
- Murdoch Business School, Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- Institute of Health Economics, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, 1000, Bangladesh
| | - Khurshid Alam
- Murdoch Business School, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Perth, WA, 6150, Australia
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Gündüz M, Yüksel Güdek Y, Kasapkara ÇS. Out-of-pocket health expenditures in patients living with ınborn errors of metabolism. Orphanet J Rare Dis 2023; 18:179. [PMID: 37415155 DOI: 10.1186/s13023-023-02775-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM The implementation of newborn screening programs for inborn errors of metabolism has advanced the diagnosis and management of affected infants and undoubtedly improved their outcomes. We aimed to determine out-of-pocket health expenditures of patients with inborn errors of metabolism during follow-up and treatment processes and to determine the economic burden on the families. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 232 patients who voluntarily agreed to participate in the study and were regularly followed up in the Department of Pediatric Metabolism with the diagnosis of Inborn Errors of Metabolism between April 2022 and July 2022 were included. Questionnaires were asked about the demographic characteristics of patients, use of health services, follow-up, treatment procedures, frequency of controls and health expenditures. RESULTS The average out-of-pocket expenditure of the households in the last month was 1039.22 ± 1030.08 (minimum: 20, maximum: 5000) Turkish Liras. When we consider the catastrophic health expenditure rate as expenditure exceeding 40% of household income, we found that 9.9% (23 people) of parents included in the study made catastrophic health expenditures. The rate of catastrophic expenditure of patients with a diagnosis of Amino Acid Metabolism Disorders was found to be higher than that of patients with a diagnosis of Vitamin and Cofactor Metabolism Disorders. Similarly, patients with a diagnosis of lysosomal storage diseases had more expenditures than patients with a diagnosis of vitamin and cofactor metabolism disorders. When we compared the rate of catastrophic health expenditure of the patients with urea cycle disorders and the patients with a diagnosis of vitamin and cofactor metabolism disorders, the former had more expenditure than the latter (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference between other disease groups in terms of catastrophic expenditure. The rate of catastrophic expenditures of the households living as large family type were higher than the families living as nuclear family type (p < 0.01). A statistically significant difference was found between the rates of catastrophic expenditures of the families living in Ankara and those who were admitted from other provinces for follow-up and treatment (p < 0.001). However, there was no difference between the rates of catastrophic expenditure of the patients who received any treatment and those who were followed up without treatment (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION Due to the high rate of consanguineous marriages in our country, the development of newborn screening programs, the increase in awareness about metabolic diseases and the improvement in diagnostic methods, the frequency of metabolic diseases is increasing, and mortality and morbidity rates are significantly reduced with early diagnosis and treatment opportunities. It is necessary to carry out more comprehensive studies to determine and prevent the socioeconomic effects of out-of-pocket health expenditures of patients living with Inborn Errors of Metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehmet Gündüz
- Department of Pediatric Metabolism, Ankara Bilkent City Hospital, University of Health Sciences, Ankara, Turkey.
| | - Yasemin Yüksel Güdek
- Department of Pediatrics, Ankara Bilkent City Hospital, University of Health Sciences, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Çiğdem Seher Kasapkara
- Department of Pediatric Metabolism, Ankara Bilkent City Hospital, Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University, Ankara, Turkey
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Hajjar K, Lillo L, Martinez DA, Hermosilla M, Risko N. Association between universal health coverage and the disease burden of acute illness and injury at the global level. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:735. [PMID: 37085801 PMCID: PMC10120184 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-15671-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study examines the relationship between universal health coverage (UHC) and the burden of emergency diseases at a global level. METHODS Data on Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) from emergency conditions were extracted from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) database for the years 2015 and 2019. Data on UHC, measured using two variables 1) coverage of essential health services and 2) proportion of the population spending more than 10% of household income on out-of-pocket health care expenditure, were extracted from the World Bank Database for years preceding our outcome of interest. A linear regression was used to analyze the association between UHC variables and DALYs for emergency diseases, controlling for other variables. RESULTS A total of 132 countries were included. The median national coverage of essential health services index was 67.5/100, while the median national prevalence of catastrophic spending in the sample was 6.74% of households. There was a strong significant relationship between health service coverage and the burden of emergency diseases, with an 11.5-point reduction in DALYs of emergency medical diseases (95% CI -9.5, -14.8) for every point increase in the coverage of essential health services index. There was no statistically significant relationship between catastrophic expenditures and the burden of emergency diseases, which may be indicative of inelastic demand in seeking services for health emergencies. CONCLUSION Increasing the coverage of essential health services, as measured by the essential health services index, is strongly correlated with a reduction in the burden of emergency conditions. In addition, data affirms that financial protection remains inadequate in many parts of the globe, with large numbers of households experiencing significant economic duress related to seeking healthcare. This evidence supports a strategy of strengthening UHC as a means of combating death and disability from health emergencies, as well as extending protection against impoverishment related to healthcare expenses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karim Hajjar
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA.
| | - Luis Lillo
- School of Industrial Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Diego A Martinez
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA
- School of Industrial Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | | | - Nicholas Risko
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA
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Rahman T, Gasbarro D, Alam K. Financial risk protection against noncommunicable diseases: trends and patterns in Bangladesh. BMC Public Health 2022; 22:1835. [PMID: 36175951 PMCID: PMC9524135 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-14243-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Demographic and epidemiological transitions are changing the disease burden from infectious to noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in low- and middle-income countries, including Bangladesh. Given the rising NCD-related health burdens and growing share of household out-of-pocket (OOP) spending in total health expenditure in Bangladesh, we compared the country's trends and socioeconomic disparities in financial risk protection (FRP) among households with and without NCDs. METHODS We used data from three recent waves of the Bangladesh Household Income and Expenditure Survey (2005, 2010, and 2016) and employed the normative food, housing (rent), and utilities method to measure the levels and distributions of catastrophic health expenditure (CHE) and impoverishing effects of OOP health expenditure among households without NCDs (i.e. non-NCDs only) and with NCDs (i.e. NCDs only, and both NCDs and non-NCDs). Additionally, we examined the incidence of forgone care for financial reasons at the household and individual levels. RESULTS Between 2005 and 2016, OOP expenses increased by more than 50% across all households (NCD-only: USD 95.6 to 149.3; NCD-and-non-NCD: USD 89.5 to 167.7; non-NCD-only: USD 45.3 to 73.0), with NCD-affected families consistently spending over double that of non-affected households. Concurrently, CHE incidence grew among NCD-only families (13.5% to 14.4%) while declining (with fluctuations) among non-NCD-only (14.4% to 11.6%) and NCD-and-non-NCD households (12.9% to 12.2%). Additionally, OOP-induced impoverishment increased among NCD-only and non-NCD-only households from 1.4 to 2.0% and 1.1 to 1.5%, respectively, affecting the former more. Also, despite falling over time, NCD-affected individuals more frequently mentioned prohibiting treatment costs as the reason for forgoing care than the non-affected (37.9% vs. 13.0% in 2016). The lowest quintile households, particularly those with NCDs, consistently experienced many-fold higher CHE and impoverishment than the highest quintile. Notably, CHE and impoverishment effects were more pronounced among NCD-affected families if NCD-afflicted household members were female rather than male, older people, or children instead of working-age adults. CONCLUSIONS The lack of FRP is more pronounced among households with NCDs than those without NCDs. Concerted efforts are required to ensure FRP for all families, particularly those with NCDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taslima Rahman
- Murdoch Business School, Murdoch University, Perth, WA 6150 Australia
- Institute of Health Economics, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, 1000 Bangladesh
| | - Dominic Gasbarro
- Murdoch Business School, Murdoch University, Perth, WA 6150 Australia
| | - Khurshid Alam
- Murdoch Business School, Murdoch University, Perth, WA 6150 Australia
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