Expenditure to Treat Thalassaemia: An Experience at a Tertiary Care Hospital in India

BACKGROUND: The medical and economic problem of thalassaemia are considered to be a vast public health problem in the thalassaemia belt countries, emphasizing more on prenatal diagnosis as the solution of the problem. METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in the Institute of Haematology & Transfusion Medicine located in Medical College, Kolkata, India to assess the socio-demographic profile, clinical presentation, expenditure for treatment of thalassaemia patients and awareness about cause and prevention of the disease. RESULTS: Thalassaemia patients attended the Govt. setting were mostly from lower socioeconomic status with low level of literacy. Annual expenditure for treatment of thalassaemia ranged from $ 108 to 432; depending on type of treatment with average cost per transfusion was $ 5.2±2.2. Average 18.5%±14.3 of the total annual income was spent on the treatment for thalassaemia. Average man days or school days lost for the patients was 29.87±18.5 and 19.07±12.7 for the accompanying persons. CONCLUSION: Blood transfusion and carrier screening facilities should be decentralized to decrease the expenditure for treatment and alleviate the harassment of the families. Folate and calcium tablets, hepatitis B vaccination can be made available at government setting free of cost.