RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To review the cost implications of demand driven health outreaches made in 2014 in terms of need, saliency and benefits. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In 2014, there were 85 medical outreach visits to seven of the 10 administrative regions provided by five entities including the government. The costing methodology was to randomly select two outreaches by each entity and then quantify the direct cost, vis-à-vis drugs and medical supplies, voluntary counseling and testing (VCT), visual inspection of cervix using acetic acid (VIA), dental, blood banking and optical services, and the cost of indirect services such as transportation, meals and stipend. RESULTS: The direct cost was GY $101 755 075 while the indirect costs amounted to GY $3 464 925 (US $17026.66) in total. Therefore, the total estimated aggregate cost for the demand-driven medical outreaches in 2014 in Guyana amounted to GY $105 220 000 (US $517 051.58). CONCLUSIONS: The cost involved in the provision of the demand-driven medical outreach service could have provided support for nine health centres or 36 health posts for one full year. Coupled with the fact that the service is mainly along the coastal areas, where the need for such services is less, it is suggested that government either suspend these activities pending a full review or have limited outreach visits to the interior in the interim.
