Economic Burden Associated with Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Qom province, central Iran using Activity Based Costing. 2018

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) as a common disease in many tropical and subtropical countries has adverse economic consequences for patients and health care system. Some rural areas of Qom are considered as active foci of disease. This study was performed in order to evaluation of economic burden associated with CL in Qom, central Iran using Activity Based Costing.

In a cross-sectional study, data of 207 patients with CL based on laboratory diagnosis in the year 2018 were used to estimate the economic burden of the disease. Charts, frequency tables, and the financial softwares (Azarakhsh and Roozamad) in Excel were used to costs analysis.

The incidence of CL in Qom province was 16.02 per 100,000 people (207/1,292,000). Economic burden of the disease was estimated at 4,265,246,799 rials (85,387$). The average direct cost paid for each person with CL was 10,631,250 rials (212$) and indirect costs (overhead) for each person was about 9,653,807 rials (193$), the governmental cost per patient 20,285,057 rials (405$), direct out of pocket payments for each patient was around 320,000 rials (7$) and the total costs was estimated at 20,605,057 rials (412$) per patient.

Direct and indirect costs associated with diagnosis and treatment of CL disease may have a great impact on patients and health care system. So, it seems more cost effective to take preventive measures.