Out-of-pocket expenditures associated with congenital zika syndrome in Brazil: an analysis of household health spending / Gastos out-of-pocket associados à síndrome congênita do vírus Zika no Brasil: uma análise dos gastos domiciliares em saúde

Objective: The study aims to estimate catastrophic health expenditures associated with the diagnosis and follow-up treatment of Congenital Zika Syndrome (CZS) in children affected during the 2015-2016 epidemic in Brazil. Catastrophic health expenditures are defined as health spending that exceeds a predefined proportion of the household's total expenditures, exposing family members to financial vulnerability. Methods: Ninety-six interviews were held in the cities of Fortaleza and Rio de Janeiro in a convenience sample, using a questionnaire on sociodemographic characteristics and private household expenditures associated with the syndrome, which also allowed estimating catastrophic expenditures resulting from care for CZS. Results: Most of the mothers interviewed in the study were brown, under 34 years of age, unemployed, and reported a monthly family income of two minimum wages or less. Spending on medicines accounted for 77.6% of the medical expenditures, while transportation and food were the main components of nonmedical expenditures, accounting for 79% of this total. The affected households were largely low-income and suffered catastrophic expenditures due to the disease. Considering the family income metric, in 41.7% of the households, expenses with the child's disease exceeded 10% of the household income. Conclusion: Public policies should consider the financial and healthcare needs of these families to ensure adequate support for individuals affected by CZS.

Objetivo: O estudo tem como objetivo estimar os gastos catastróficos em saúde associados ao diagnóstico e acompanhamento do tratamento da síndrome congênita do Zika (SCZ) em crianças afetadas durante a epidemia de 2015-2016 no Brasil. Gastos catastróficos em saúde são definidos como gastos com saúde que excedem uma proporção predefinida dos gastos totais do domicílio, expondo os membros da família à vulnerabilidade financeira. Métodos: Foram realizadas 96 entrevistas nas cidades de Fortaleza e Rio de Janeiro numa amostra de conveniência, por meio de questionário sobre características sociodemográficas e gastos privados domiciliares associados à síndrome, o que também permitiu estimar gastos catastróficos decorrentes do cuidado à SCZ. Resultados: A maioria das mães entrevistadas no estudo era parda, com menos de 34 anos, desempregada e com renda familiar mensal igual ou inferior a dois salários mínimos. Os gastos com medicamentos representaram 77,6% dos gastos médicos, enquanto transporte e alimentação foram os principais componentes dos gastos não médicos, respondendo por 79% desse total. Os domicílios afetados eram, em grande parte, de baixa renda e sofreram gastos catastróficos devido à doença. Considerando a métrica de renda familiar, em 41,7% dos domicílios, os gastos com a doença da criança ultrapassaram 10% da renda familiar. Conclusão: As políticas públicas devem considerar as necessidades financeiras e de saúde dessas famílias para garantir o suporte adequado aos indivíduos acometidos pela SCZ.

Gasto catastrófico y empobrecedor en salud: Un estudio para Argentina / Catastrophic and Impoverishing Expenditure: a study for Argentina

INTRODUCCIÓN: La protección financiera en salud implica que todas las personas accedan a los servicios de salud que necesiten sin sufrir dificultades financieras para pagarlos. Dicha protección se estima mediante indicadores como el gasto catastrófico y empobrecedor en salud. El trabajo tuvo por objetivo estimar esos indicadores para Argentina en el período 2017-2018. MÉTODOS: Se construyeron y analizaron las variables del gasto en salud y los indicadores de gasto catastrófico y empobrecedor en salud a través del procesamiento de la Encuesta Nacional de Gastos de los Hogares (ENGHo) de 2017-2018. Asimismo, se realizó una comparación con la ENGHo 2004-2005. RESULTADOS: Los hogares destinaron un 6,4% del gasto total a bienes y servicios de salud, y un 4,9% del ingreso total. Según la ENGHo 2017-2018, el 11,4% y el 3,3% de los hogares del país incurrió en gasto catastrófico en salud para umbrales del 10% y 25% del gasto total del hogar, respectivamente. Respecto al período 2004- 2005, el indicador cayó con cualquier umbral utilizado. Por su parte, como consecuencia del gasto de bolsillo en salud, los hogares considerados pobres aumentaron en 1,8 puntos porcentuales. DISCUSIÓN: La caída del gasto catastrófico entre los dos períodos en análisis podría exponer un avance en la protección financiera del país. El análisis revela la importancia de contar con datos sobre necesidad, utilización y gasto en servicios de salud de manera simultánea para lograr una mejor comprensión de esta problemática.

Catastrophic Health Expenditure and Impoverishment from NonCommunicable Diseases: A comparison of Private and Public Health Facilities in Ekiti State, Southwest Nigeria

Catastrophic health expenditure and impoverishment are the outcomes of poor financing mechanisms. Little is known about the prevalence and predictors of these outcomes among non-communicable disease patients in private and public health facilities. METHODS: A health facility-based comparative cross-sectional study was conducted among 360 patients with non-communicable diseases (180 per group) selected through multistage sampling. Data were collected with a semi-structured, interviewer administered questionnaire and analyzed with IBM SPSS for Windows, Version 22.0. Two prevalences of catastrophic health expenditure were calculated utilizing both the World Bank (CHE1) and the WHO (CHE2) methodological thresholds. RESULTS: The prevalence of CHE1 (Private:42.2%, Public:21.7%, p<0.001) and CHE2 (Private:46.8%, Public:28.0%, p<0.001) were higher in private health facilities. However, there was no significant difference between the proportion of impoverishment (Private: 24.3%, Public:30.9%, p=0.170). The identified predictors were occupation, number of complications and clinic visits for catastrophic health expenditure and socioeconomic status for impoverishment in private health facilities. Level of education, occupation, socioeconomic status, number of complications and alcohol predicted catastrophic health expenditure while the level of education, socioeconomic status andthe number of admissions predicted impoverishment in public health facilities. CONCLUSION: Catastrophic health expenditure and impoverishment were high among the patients, with the former more prevalent in private health facilities. Therefore, we recommend expanding the coverage and scope of national health insurance among these patients to provide them with financial risk protection. Identified predictors should be taken into account by the government and other stakeholders when designing policies to limit catastrophic health expenditure and impoverishment among them

Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible: impacto de la falta de protección financiera en salud en países de América Latina y el Caribe

[RESUMEN]. Objetivo. Determinar el impacto del gasto de bolsillo en salud en los hogares, los niveles de protección financiera y su desigualdad según variables relevantes en países de la Región. Se indaga su evolución y relación con el uso de servicios del sistema de salud. Métodos. Se recopila información descriptiva comparada acerca del gasto de bolsillo, su incidencia en la población, y su peso y composición en el consumo de los hogares. Se presentan indicadores de protección financiera en el nivel nacional y su distribución por quintiles de consumo total de hogares y por género. Se contrastan con un indicador de cobertura de servicios. Resultados. Los indicadores de gasto de bolsillo y protección financiera son deficientes pero diferenciados entre los países. Se identifica la composición del gasto en salud para un subgrupo de ellos y existen gradientes significativos cuando se estudian las desigualdades. Para algunos casos, se muestran cambios en el tiempo y posibles asociaciones con los niveles de cobertura de servicios. Discusión. La desprotección financiera afecta a una gran parte de la población, se configuran grupos de países con dificultades mayores que otros, con preponderancia de gasto en medicamentos y exposición mayor de grupos en situaciones de vulnerabilidad, como los más pobres y las mujeres, lo que denota una gran inequidad. Se identifican políticas de algunos países que pueden asociarse con la evolución de la protección financiera. Para reemplazar el gasto de bolsillo, barrera para el acceso, los países necesitan aumentar el gasto público mediante el financiamiento de los sistemas de salud en transformación hacia la salud universal.

[ABSTRACT]. Objective. To determine the impact of household out-of-pocket health spending, financial protection levels, and their inequality according to relevant variables in the countries of the Region; to investigate their evolution and relationship with health system services utilization. Methods. Comparative descriptive information was compiled on out-of-pocket spending, its incidence in the population, and its weight and contribution to household consumption. Financial protection indicators for the national level and their distribution by quintiles of total household consumption and by gender are presented, and compared to an indicator of service coverage. Results. Out-of-pocket spending and financial protection indicators are deficient but demonstrate differences among countries. The composition of health expenditure is identified for a subset of countries and significant gradients are seen when inequalities are studied. Changes over time and possible associations with service coverage levels are shown for several cases. Discussion. Lack of financial protection affects a large part of the population. Additionally, there are groups of countries with greater difficulties than others, where a preponderance of spending is on medicines, and there is greater exposure of groups in conditions of vulnerability, such as the poorest and women, indicating great inequity. Policies of some countries that can be associated with improvement in financial protection are identified. To replace out-of-pocket spending, which is a barrier to access, countries need to increase public spending by financing health systems undergoing transformation toward universal health.

[RESUMO]. Objetivo. Determinar o impacto dos gastos diretos em saúde nas famílias, os níveis de proteção financeira e sua desigualdade, de acordo com variáveis relevantes nos países da Região; investigar sua evolução e sua relação com a utilização dos serviços do sistema de saúde. Métodos. Foram coletadas informações descritivas comparativas sobre gastos diretos em saúde, sua incidência na população e seu peso e composição no consumo familiar. Os indicadores de proteção financeira são apresentados em nível nacional, estratificados por quintis de consumo total das famílias e por gênero, e são comparados com um indicador de cobertura de serviço. Resultados. Os indicadores de gastos diretos e proteção financeira são limitados, mas demonstram diferenças entre os países. Foi possível identificar a composição dos gastos com saúde para um subgrupo deles, observando-se gradientes significativos quando as desigualdades são estudadas. Em alguns casos, observam-se também mudanças ao longo do tempo e possíveis associações com os níveis de cobertura de serviço. Discussão. A falta de proteção financeira atinge grande parte da população. Foram observados grupos de países com mais dificuldades do que outros, com preponderância de gastos com medicamentos e maior exposição de grupos em situação de vulnerabilidade, como os mais pobres e as mulheres, o que denota alto nível de iniquidade. Em alguns países foram identificadas políticas que podem estar associadas à evolução da proteção financeira. Para substituir os gastos diretos, que constituem uma barreira ao acesso, os países precisam aumentar o gasto público, financiando os sistemas de saúde numa transformação rumo à saúde universal.

Effect of the catastrophic medical insurance on household catastrophic health expenditure: evidence from China / El efecto del seguro médico para enfermedades catastróficas o de alto coste sobre el gasto doméstico en salud: la evidencia en China

OBJECTIVE: China launched an innovative program of catastrophic medical insurance (CMI) to protect households from catastrophic health expenditure (CHE) and impoverishment. This article assesses the effect of CMI on relieving CHE and impoverishment from catastrophic illnesses in urban and rural China. METHOD: In total, 8378 cases are included in the analysis. We employed descriptive statistical analysis to compare the incidence and intensity of CHE at five health expenditure levels, from 1 June 2014 to 31 May 2015. To illustrate the different protection of the policy, we analyzed the data in two lines, the covered medical expenses and the total medical expenses. RESULTS: CMI drop down CHE incidence from 4.8% to 0.1% and the mean catastrophic payment gap from 7.9% to zero when only considering covered medical expenses. CMI drop down CHE incidence from 15.5% to 7.9% and the mean catastrophic payment gap from 31.2% to 14.7% when considering total medical expenses. If CMI reimburse uncovered medical expenses at 30%, the mean catastrophic payment gap could be 7.9% and insured person's annual premium will increase US$2.19. CONCLUSIONS: China CMI perfectly meet the pursued policy objectives when only considering the covered medical expenses. However, when considering the total medical expenses, the CMI is only partially effective in protecting households from CHE. The considerable gap is the result of the limitation of CMI list

OBJETIVO: China lanzó un innovador programa de Seguro Catastrófico de Salud (SCS) para proteger a los hogares del gasto sanitario catastrófico (GSC) y el empobrecimiento. Este artículo evalúa el efecto del SCS para aliviar el GSC y el empobrecimiento a causa de las enfermedades catastróficas en zonas urbanas y rurales de China. MÉTODO: En total, se incluyen 8378 casos en el análisis. Se emplearon análisis estadísticos descriptivos para comparar la incidencia y la intensidad del GSC en cinco niveles de gastos de salud, del 1 de junio de 2014 al 31 de mayo de 2015. Para ilustrar la diferente protección de la política se analizaron los datos en dos líneas: los gastos sanitarios cubiertos por el seguro y los gastos sanitarios totales. RESULTADOS: Considerando los gastos cubiertos por el seguro, se redujeron los hogares con gastos catastróficos del 4,8% al 0,1%, y la brecha de pago catastrófico media cayó del 7,9% al 0,0% en promedio. Cuando consideramos el gasto sanitario total, los hogares con gasto catastrófico se redujeron del 15,5% al 7,9%, y la brecha de pago catastrófico media cayó del 31,2% al 14,7% en promedio. Esta cantidad podría reducirse al 7,9% si se reembolsara el 30% a los gastos no cubiertos por el SCS, lo que supondría un aumento de la prima del seguro por persona de US$ 2,19. CONCLUSIONES: El SCS de China cumple perfectamente los objetivos de la política perseguida cuando solo se consideran los gastos cubiertos por el seguro. Si se consideran los gastos totales, el SCS solo es parcialmente efectivo para proteger a los hogares del gasto sanitario catastrófico. El motivo de este desfase es la limitación existente en la lista de servicios cubiertos por el SCS

Innovative social protection mechanism for alleviating catastrophic expenses on multidrug-resistant tuberculosis patients in Chhattisgarh, India

Background: Patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) incur hugeexpenditures for diagnosis and treatment; these costs can be reduced through awell-designed and implemented social health insurance mechanism. The State ofChhattisgarh in India successfully established a partnership between the RevisedNational TB Control Programme (RNTCP) and the Health Insurance Programme,to form a universal health insurance scheme for all, by establishing RashtriyaSwasthya Bima Yojna (RSBY) and Mukhyamantri Swasthya Bima Yojana(MSBY) MDR-TB packages. The objective of this partnership was to absorbthe catastrophic expenses incurred by patients with MDR-TB, from diagnosis totreatment completion, in the public and private sector. This paper documents theinitial experience of a tailor-made health insurance programme, linked to coveringcatastrophic health expenditure for patients with MDR-TB.Methods: In this descriptive study, data on uptake of insurance claims throughinnovative MDR-TB packages from January 2013 to April 2014 were collected.A simple survey of costs for clinical investigation and inpatient care was conductedacross two major urban districts in Chhattisgarh. In these selected districts, threehealth facilities from the private sector and one medical college from the publicsector with a functional drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) centre were chosenby the RSBY and MSBY State Nodal Agency to complete a simple, structuredquestionnaire on existing market rates. The mean costs for clinical investigationsand hospital stay were calculated for an individual patient with MDR-TB who wouldseek services from the private or public sector.Results: A total of 207 insurance claims for RSBY and MSBY MDR-TB packageswere processed, of which 20 were from private and 187 from public healthestablishments, covered under the health insurance programme, free of charge.An estimated catastrophic expenditure, of approximately US$ 20 000, was savedthrough the RSBY and MSBY health insurance mechanism during the study period.Conclusion: The innovative RSBY and MSBY MDR-TB insurance package is astep towards reducing catastrophic expenses associated with treatment for MDRTB.