A cost-effectiveness analysis of the clinical curative measure as an alternative to tuberculosis management in the Pietermaritzburg-Msunduzi council area.
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Date
1999
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Abstract
This research examines the treatment of Tuberculosis in South Africa, focussing
particularly on the Pietermaritzburg-Msunduzi Council Area in the Natal province.
Two alternative measures of TB control are examined, the clinical curative regime and inpatient
treatment, that is, the hospitalisation of patients. The samples used are a random
selection of patients treated through the Pietermaritzburg Clinic and SANTA Hospital.
As this research entails a cost-effectiveness analysis determining the most cost-effective way
of treating TB, much of the analysis and conclusions are derived from the costs entailed in the
two aforementioned control measures. Cost analysis of the alternative measures of treatment
reflects that the clinical outpatient alternative to TB treatment is more cost-effective than the
hospitalisation option. A closer examination of the costs reveals the cost savings that can
occur if an efficient use of resources is established. Furthermore the results reflect a cost
effective drug use by the hospital at R173.65 per patient cured compared to R403.51 per
patient cured through the clinic. Analysis of results showed institutional costs as the reason for
the cost-ineffectiveness of hospital care. Overall, the clinical measure to the treatment of TB was more cost-effective at R490.34 per patient cured compared to the R7502.66 per person cured through hospitalisation.
The sample sizes yielded cure rates of fifty-eight for the clinic and eighty-five percent for the hospital.
Description
Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1999.
Keywords
Tuberculosis--Economic aspects--South Africa., Hospital care--Economic aspects., Theses--Economics.