Cost categories | Definition | Direct or indirect | Pre- or post-diagnosis | Number of studies reporting cost category | Range (median) of costs |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Health insurance | Costs required for national health insurance schemes to finance TB care | Direct | Pre-diagnosis | 2 | I$2- I$3 (I$2) |
Consultation or prepayment fees | Costs charged by providers before diagnosis or treatment | Direct | Pre-diagnosis | 4 | I$2- I$7 (I$3) |
Private provider fees | Costs charged in the private sector rather than the public sector | Direct | Both | 4 | I$24- I$141 (I$41) |
Hospitalization | Costs associated with hospitalization due to TB | Direct | Post-diagnosis | 10 | I$1- I$530 (I$80) |
Medication | Costs of medications including standard TB treatment under non-DOTS systems and other drugs | Direct | Post-diagnosis | 5 | I$15- I$548 (I$21)a |
Diagnostic tests | Costs for tests other than sputum microscopy such as x-rays, chest radiographs, or other laboratory tests | Direct | Pre-diagnosis | 3 | I$7- I$10 (I$9) |
Traditional healer | Costs associated with seeking traditional healers before Western medical care | Direct | Pre-diagnosis | 5 | I$4- I$563 (I$15) |
Food | Costs for regular food and food separate from normal diets such as potatoes, eggs, meat, fruit, and soft drinks [58] | Direct | Post-diagnosis | 4 | I$4- I$36 (I$10) |
Travel | Costs for travel association with pre-diagnosis, consultation, diagnosis, treatment, pill collection, DOTS and follow-up treatment visits. | Direct | Both | 18 | I$0.17- I$70 (I$5) |
Time | Time and indirect costs associated with time spent seeking/receiving care and lost work time | Indirect | Both | 21 | I$0.23- I$412 (I$16)b |
Caregiver | Costs to those accompanying patients to TB care visits, retrieving medications on their behalf, or cost of care-giving activities. Direct costs encompass travel expenses, food, or other costs such as paying for an overnight stay when making a long journey. Indirect costs include loss of income and time spent accompanying patients or providing care-giving activities. | Both | Both | 8 | I$0.41- I$1,510 (I$11)c |