THE TREATMENT COST OF END-STAGE RENAL DISEASE WITH HEMODIALYSIS IN THU DUC DISTRICT HOSPITAL

Abstract

Background: Treatment of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients resulted in extension of their life expectancy, however they poses a financial burden on patients and their households. The study was conducted at Thu Duc district Hospital with the aim at calculating the monthly medical direct cost of ESRD patients with hemodialysis, and assessing financial burden of the disease treatment on their households. Method: A cross-sectional descriptive study. Cost data was collected by interviewing 100 patients dialysed. Financial invoices of patients were used to calculate monthly medical direct costs on the basis of health care payer’s perspective. Results: The financial burden of the treatmen was measured by proportion out-ofpocket payment from total household income remaining after subsistence needs met. The results showed that the monthly average total medical cost was 9,591,443 VND per person ($5,377US per year per person) in which out of pocket payments of patient was 3,192,610 VND. Out-of-pocket cost was 80.5% of total income remaining after subsistence needs met of the near poor households and exceeded near 7 times of that of the poor households every month. Key words: end-stage renal disease, hemodialysis, direct medical costs, out-of-pocket, financial burden