Self-expense among outpatient department patients at a public hospital in Karachi, Pakistan
Syed, N.; Athar, R.; Khan, O.F.; Shakoor, K.; Qureshi, H.; Alam, S.E.
Jpma. Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association 54(5): 270-271
2004
ISSN/ISBN: 0030-9982 PMID: 15270188 Document Number: 569584
A study was conducted to determine the amount that patients have to pay for the management of their illnesses at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre in Karachi, Pakistan. 1013 patients (714 males and 299 females) were included in the study. Results showed that most patients used the hospital's facilities; 90% utilized the laboratory facilities and 95% underwent radiological/ultrasound tests. The time spent by a patient in the hospital was about four h per day. Each patient visited the hospital an average of eight times per ailment. The expenditure for transport ranged from PRs16 to PRs145. The average costs of drugs, laboratory test, X ray/ultrasound, and specific test were PRs126, PRs180, PRs50, and PRs320, respectively. It is recommended that efforts should be directed to shorten the time spent by a patient in the outpatient department and reduce the number of visits in order to improve the delivery of health care.