Cost of Delivery at Siriraj Hospital under Universal Health Coverage

Abstract

Healthcare is one of human basic needs and an integral part of social wellbeing. Healthcare visits incur direct and indirect costs. This study aimed to analyze costs of spontaneous vertex delivery and delivery by elective caesarean section at Siriraj Hospital under the Universal Health Coverage scheme for the fiscal year 2016. This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted from October 2015 to September 2016. The cost data from 98 normal deliveries and 8 caesarean sections were analyzed under provider and patient perspectives, using Thai baht currency. It was found that the total cost of providing delivery at Siriraj Hospital was baht THB 2,238,971.37. The highest cost was the direct cost which accounted for THB 1,837,926.65 or 82.1%; and the indirect cost was THB 401,044.72 or 17.9%. The highest direct cost was the nonmedical service charge of THB 1,677,110.92, followed by the cost of drugs, medical supplies and the equipment with depreciation cost of THB 139,239.50 and THB 21,576.2, respectively. The indirect costs were further divided into cost of technical staff of THB 290,412.41 and cost of supportive staff of THB 110,632.31. The cost per admission for normal delivery was THB 17,685.61 (cost per day was THB 5,171.23), and the cost per admission for caesarean section was THB 63,222.64 (cost per day was THB 12,644.53). The cost of delivery service in patient perspective was THB 1,217.71 which included nonmedical cost of THB 203.33 and opportunity cost of receiving services of THB 1,014.38.