M Khammarnia, F Setoodehzadeh, E Barfar, K Rezaei, M Peyvand,
Volume 16, Issue 4 (Vol.16, No.4 2021)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Diabetes is one of the most expensive chronic diseases and a global public health problem. One of the objectives of implementing the Health Reform Plan (HRP) was to reduce the out-of-pocket payments for hospitalized patients. The present study was carried out with the aim of determining the direct medical costs in hospitalized diabetic patients after implementation of the HRP.
Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study was conducted in 2019. The records of diabetic patients hospitalized in Imam-Ali Hospital of Zahedan from March 2017 to June 2018 was reviewed by the census method and the direct medical costs were recorded in a researcher-made checklist. Data were analyzed using the SPSS version 22
Results: In this study, the direct medical costs of 704 hospitalized diabetic patients were evaluated. The majority of the study population was female (517, 73/5%) and 237 had gestational diabetes. The mean direct medical cost per hospitalized diabetic patient was 29,264,465 Rials and the mean out-of-pocket payment was 11.8%. Moreover, direct medical costs of diabetic patients increased with age (P<.001).
Conclusion: Diabetic hospital care imposes a high burden on basic health insurance. Despite the HRP, out-of-pocket payments for hospitalized diabetics are still significant. Government subsidies should focus on expanding access to care for diabetics, financial protection for disadvantaged residents and expanding public education on diabetes.
