Indirect cost of HIV care: the example of patients at Casablanca University Hospital

Abstract

According to the latest statistics from the World Health Organization, more than 37.7 million people living with HIV at the end of 2020 and around two thirds of those infected are in the African region. According to the IHME, the burden of disease is estimated at more than 47 million years of life lost due to morbidity and premature mortality.

Since the introduction of ARV in Morocco in 1998, the Ministry of Health has provided free care to PLHIV with additional support from the Global Fund, which generates significant economic costs, thus constituting an important health issue public. As the number of people infected with HIV increases, so do the costs of care. The direct cost linked to care is known, what about the indirect cost. It is therefore important to estimate the indirect cost of care in order to assess the economic consequences of HIV infection.

This present work was carried out at the Ibn Rochd University Hospital in Casablanca. The objective was to estimate the indirect cost of HIV care. Data collection was carried out using NADIS software and the inpatient registry.

The annual indirect cost of HIV including the cost linked to early mortality and the cost linked to absenteeism was estimated at 15,911,814.47 Dhs. The majority of costs are due to early mortality.

Estimating the indirect costs of people living with HIV is crucial for effective management of the epidemic and for better and adequate allocation of resources. This will contribute to a better quality of life for people living with the disease and to reducing the social and economic impact of the epidemic on society.

Keywords: Indirect cost; HIV; Morocco

JEL Classification: I10; I18

Paper type : Research Intervention