Abstract
ObjectiveThis study aims to estimate the cost of clinical management of COVID-19 infected patients based on their severity by exploring the resources used in health care provision in Myanmar.MethodsA multicenter retrospective cost analysis of COVID-19 patients was performed using the micro-costing approach from the perspective of the health system. It covered two cost components, namely direct and indirect cost of treating a patient. Input data and their quantities were obtained from COVID-19 Standard Treatment Guidelines of Ministry of Health and Sports, and administrative and financial records of resource utilization of three designated health facilities in Yangon Region. Valuation of these resources was based on the price list from the Procurement Section of the Ministry.ResultsThis study estimated the unit cost of clinical management of COVID-19 infected patients with no symptom to be 953,552 MMK(717 USD), with mild-moderate symptoms to be 1,155,222 MMK(869 USD) and with severe-critically ill conditions to be 5,705,052 MMK(4290 USD). Average cost for a patient par day was 86,687 MMK(65 USD) for asymptomatic patients, 105,020 MMK(79 USD) for mild-moderate patients and 283,252 MMK(214 USD) for severe-critically ill patients. Since the first case detected till December 31, 2020, COVID-19 clinical management cost was accounted for 139 Billion MMK (104 Million USD) for total 124,630 confirmed cases.ConclusionsCOVID-19 pandemic has caused health systems to incur the significant health care expenses. Timely implementation of the sustainable, affordable and efficient policy for COVID-19 responses is of utmost important for every nation especially in the face of a pandemic. This study provides the fundamental inputs for strategic planning, for future economic evaluations of different policy interventions, and policy recommendations for health systems to remain resilient during and after the COVID-19 pandemic in Myanmar.
Highlights
On January 30, 2020, World Health Organization (WHO) announced the novel coronavirus outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, later formally identified as Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID19)
In Myanmar, 124,630 cases of COVID19 confirmed cases had been reported, of which 107,069 cases were discharged from health facilities, and 2681 died. 708,370 number of suspected people were quarantined at facilities and 1,818,260 specimens were tested for COVID-19 infection between March and December, 2020 [2, 3]
This study aims to estimate the cost of clinical management of COVID-19 infected patients based on their severity by exploring the resources used in health care provision in Myanmar
Summary
On January 30, 2020, World Health Organization (WHO) announced the novel coronavirus outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, later formally identified as Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID19). According to the World Health Organization, as of December 31, 2020, the number of COVID-19 confirmed cases reached 82.6 million, including 1.8 million deaths around the world. 708,370 number of suspected people were quarantined at facilities and 1,818,260 specimens were tested for COVID-19 infection between March and December, 2020 [2, 3]. The Myanmar Government has financed the costs of the COVID-19 pandemic response that cover contact tracing, testing, quarantine and treatment of COVID-19 infected patients, by reorienting the budgetary arrangements, securing public donation and international assistance. In Yangon which is the most populated city of the country, three main health facilities have primarily been designated for caring the COVID-19 patients, namely Waibargi Specialist Hospital (90 beds), South Okkalapa Specialist Hospital (80 beds) and Phaung Gyi COVID-19 Treatment Center (1200 beds). To reinforce the service provision, four additional temporary facilities with a capacity of about 4050 beds in total across the Yangon Region host and treat less severe COVID-19 cases [2, 4]
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