Table 3

Mean (SD) medical expenditure in US$ per disease episode by cost type and diagnosis

Diagnosis
Cost typePneumoniaDiarrhoeaSevere pneumonia with inpatient careSevere diarrhoea with inpatient care
Transportation0.97 (2.22)0.99 (3.30)6.25 (7.66)9.64 (11.02)
Registration/consultation0.82 (1.76)0.71 (1.45)2.15 (2.72)2.18 (2.64)
Laboratory1.20 (3.48)0.88 (2.36)7.34 (12.94)10.22 (17.05)
Medicines and supplies4.27 (6.42)3.02 (5.28)28.53 (30.78)28.89 (33.86)
Hospital bed12.69 (15.37)17.62 (32.96)
Traditional healer visit*0.11 (0.56)0.12 (0.90)1.15 (4.47)
Other†0.60 (2.31)0.48 (2.09)6.81 (6.35)9.58 (12.61)
DMC‡6.30 (10.51)4.65 (8.43)50.70 (52.38)58.9 (68.95)
DNMC‡1.68 (3.85)1.59 (4.92)13.05 (10.48)20.37 (21.44)
Total medical expenditure§7.98 (12.83)6.24 (11.88)63.76 (54.26)79.27 (74.38)
  • *Among 345 pneumonia cases who visited health facilities 18 had had a visit to a traditional healer with a mean (SD) cost of 1.72 (1.49). Among 341 diarrhoea cases who visited health facilities 16 had had a visit to a traditional healer with a mean (SD) cost of 2.74 (3.39).

  • †Other costs include expenses incurred for food, lodging, etc.

  • ‡DMC includes registration fee, medicines, laboratory and diagnostics and bed charges while DNMC includes transport, lodging, traditional healer, etc.

  • §Total medical expenditure is the sum of DMC and DNMC.

  • DMC, direct medical costs; DNMC, direct non-medical costs.