Table 1 Methods of identification of costs in the study
From: Community-based DOTS and family member DOTS for TB control in Nepal: costs and cost-effectiveness
Costs | Notes | Identification method | Source of data |
|---|---|---|---|
Health Systems costs | |||
Staff salaries | Includes only the proportion of annual salary of staff attributable to TB | Salary rate for this category of staff (net salary per day) × annual days attributable to TB | Facility financial records Semi-structured questionnaire |
Training | Includes monitoring and supervision | Cost of training for this intervention as a proportion of the total cost of training for each facility number of training courses in the study sites (for regional level) | Facility records Semi-structured questionnaire |
Medicines | NTP estimates of medicine costs per patient × Total number of patients in the study sites | Tuberculosis Control in Nepal 2055–2060 (1998–2003), Long Term Plan; Annual Report of TB Control Program Nepal, 2058/2059 (2001/2002) Facility records (for No of patients) | |
Transportation | Includes transportation of medicines and laboratory supplies. | Total cost of transportation | Facility records |
Utilities | Total cost of utilities × time for TB programme (e.g. 1/3 for regional level) | Facility records Semi-structured questionnaire | |
Others | Includes supplies, logistics, social mobilisation through DOTS committees | Facility records Semi-structured questionnaire | |
Social costs | |||
Direct costs | Includes treatment and travel charges | Number of visits × travel and consultation charges | Semi-structured questionnaire |
Opportunity costs | Includes costs for time lost due to involvement in the scheme | Standardised daily rate for unskilled labour (NRs 85/day) × time lost due to involvement in the scheme | Semi-structured questionnaire |
Other costs | Includes miscellaneous expenses such as refreshments while in the treatment centre | Patients and supervisors' recollection of any other expenses | Semi-structured questionnaire |