Cost of Hemodialysis in a Tertiary Care Hospital in North India

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a worldwide public health problem with significant health consequences and involvement of high cost on treatment worldwide. Although renal transplant is a cost effective treatment option for ESRD, use of hemodialysis in patients with ESRD patients remains one of the most resource intensive and expensive therapeutic intervention.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate cost of hemodialysis treatment for patients with ESRD that would help in making policy decisions and enable cost efficient utilization of ESRD programme and hemodialysis.

METHODS: 58 patients with ESRD on chronic hemodialysis were incorporated in the present study at a tertiary care teaching hospital between January 2010 to December 2010. Patients who survived less than 3 months after commencement of treatment were excluded.

RESULTS: Mean age of the study patients was 46.4±8 in yrs. Among the 54 patients studied 51 % were male. 86% of patients received three sessions of hemodialysis weekly, with duration per session varying between 2 - 4 hours. Average cost was Rs. 2001.84 per session. Estimated total annual burden was Rs. 209449.10 per patient. Average cost borne by hospital was Rs. 951.84 per session/patient (47.55 % of cost bone by the patient); cost born by hospital per patient per year was Rs. 123647.70. Principal expenses (% wise) were: staff salary cost 20.84 %, instrument cost (purchased locally from market) 32.50%, salary cost 20.84%, and rental cost 18.20 %.

CONCLUSION: The costs estimated in this study comparable with national average cost of hemodialysis in India but lower as compared to that in other SARC countries; approaches to reduce cost further are needed. JMS 2012;15(1):47-50.