RESUMO
Purpose: The main aim of this study is to estimate the provider's cost, patients' cost (home and institutional quarantine cost) and the total economic burden of COVID-19 for patients with PCR positive in Kuwait. Patients and Methods: This cross-sectional and retrospective study identified the cost incurred for treating COVID-19 inpatients admitted to a General Hospital in Kuwait, a designated COVID-19 treatment center by the Kuwait Government during pandemic. A total of 485 COVID-19 patients were randomly selected from May 1st to September 31st, 2021. Data on sociodemographic information, length of stay (LOS), discharge status, and comorbidities were obtained from the patients' medical records. A step-down approach was done to estimate the healthcare provider cost per patient per admission. Patient cost (loss of productivity due to hospitalization, institutional and home quarantine) was calculated using human capital approach. The national economic burden of COVID-19 was estimated using costing data from a general hospital for the entire nation. The data were analyzed using the statistical software package SPSS version 25. Results: In all, 485 COVID-19 patients were involved in the research. KD 2216 (USD 7,344) was the average cost per patient per admission. The ICU accounted for 20.6% of the total cost, the physician and nursing staff for 42.1%, and the laboratory services for 10.2%. The estimated annual cost of care for COVID-19 patients in Kuwait was KD 147.4 (USD 488.5) million, or 5.5% of the MOH budget for 2021, given that 9.03% (383,731) of the population had positive COVID-19 PCR results in 2021. The range of the estimated national economic burden, considering both the best and worst-case scenarios, is KD 73.6 (USD 244.2) million to KD 221.0 (USD 732.7) million. Conclusion: COVID-19 poses a substantial financial strain on the healthcare system, estimated at 5.9% to 8.8% of the MOH's annual budget and 0.2% to 0.7% of Kuwait's GDP in 2021. To mitigate costs, prioritizing prevention and health education is crucial. Targeted strategies, such as workforce optimization, are needed to address high expenses. Policymakers and administrators should leverage these insights for enhanced efficiency and sustainability in future epidemic responses.
RESUMO
Introduction: As with several countries around the world, cesarean section rates are increasing also in Indonesia, raising issues of quality and cost-effectiveness of health care, especially with the shift from a fee-for-service to a prospective payment system. For hospital services to be effective (quality control) and efficient (cost control), clinical pathways are essential. However, no studies have been done to develop a clinical pathway for cesarean sections (CS) in the INA-CBG system that is both effective and efficient. Objective: To develop clinical pathways for CS that are both effective and efficient by determining unit costs and tariffs for CS services, reviewing procedures and outcomes, and assessing performance efficiency and effectiveness. Methods: Using a sample of 110 patients undergoing cesarean sections consecutively recruited in 11 hospitals of West Sumatra (6 public hospitals and 5 private institutions), this mixed (qualitative and quantitative) study aimed at developing clinical guidelines for childbirth delivery modes responding both to criteria of efficacy and efficiency. Results: Of 110 patients, 50 patients (45%) had efficient CS, 85 patients (77%) had effective CS, and 40 patients (36.4%) had both effective and efficient CS. A comprehensive clinical pathway for CS procedure was created by investigating 40 patients who underwent effective and efficient CS using interviews, a Delphi study, and professional advice. Discussion: Hospitals can adopt the effective and efficient clinical pathway for CS protocol to prevent cost-related losses (efficient) while retaining the quality of the service (effective).