Funds for Treatment of Hospitalized Patients: Evidence from Bangladesh.
Loading...
Date
2014-09
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
This study was designed to explore sources of funds for health expenditure of patients if they are hospitalized.
We have included 379 patients of 3 private and 7 public hospitals to estimate total expenditure. Of
them, 229 (60.4%) were from public and 150 (39.6%) from private hospitals. Mean expenditure was
Tk 60,613.3 and 8,262.7, and duration of hospital stay was 10.7 and 11.8 days in private and public hospitals
respectively. More than half (55%) of the patients from middle class were treated in private hospitals.
Of them, 278 (74.0%) were funded by themselves, 48 (12.8%) by loan with interest rate of 100% to 180%,
23 (6.1%) by loan without interest, 17 (4.5%) by losing their fixed asset, and 4 (1.1%) by begging in the
street. Most of the patients did bear expenditure by themselves, followed by loan with high interest rate.
‘Distress’ selling of property was also a source. Middle-class patients could be comfortable with expenditure
if they were in public hospitals.
Description
Keywords
Developing nations, Healthcare expenditure, Health service, Hospitals, Bangladesh
Citation
Begum Farhana, Alam Shahinul, Hossain Akmal. Funds for Treatment of Hospitalized Patients: Evidence from Bangladesh. Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition. 2014 Sep; 32(3): 465-470.