Identifying costs: The case of refractive error, strabismus, and ptosis amongst children in Vietnam

ABSTRACT

Background: Vietnamese children older than six are not covered by Health Insurance Scheme for strabismus, ptosis, refractive error. Consequently, they are not getting appropriate treatment. Health insurance law is being revised to widen its coverage. Facilitating this advocacy, this study estimates costs of strabismus surgery, ptosis surgery, refractive error correction amongst children under 16.

Methods: This retrospective study on healthcare costs of 3 eye diseases was estimated from the provider's perspective employing a standard costing approach.

Results: Average costs of diagnosis, treatment, follow-up services for a case of refractive error were US$ 13.2; US$ 12.4; US$ 7.3, and US$ 1.5 at the central, provincial, district, and communal level, respectively. These figures for a strabismus case were US$ 183.2; US$ 154.1 at the central and provincial levels, respectively. These figures of a ptosis case at the central, provincial, district hospitals were US$ 201.2; US$ 155.7; US$ 6.5, respectively. Total annual costs for 03 pediatric eye diseases as % of the total amount of health insurance revenue from children under 16 years old were 4.23%; 0.07%; 0.02%, respectively and as of GDP were 0.0129%; 0.0002%; 0.0001%, respectively

Conclusion: The costs should be covered by health insurance scheme as a result of medical necessity, cost-effectiveness interventions, within the scope of a payable health insurance fund.

KEYWORDS:

• refractive errors
• strabismus
• ptosis
• cost
• Vietnam
• pediatric

Acknowledgements

The research was funded by Orbis Vietnam. The views expressed here are those of the authors. They are not necessarily those of Orbis Vietnam. The authors are grateful to Bui Van Anh for technical advisory, Le Viet Anh and Tran Thi Thanh Huong for their support during data collection phase. The authors also acknowledge with gratitude the contributions of all health staff from National Ophthalmology Hospital, Phu Tho Eye Hospital, Hue Eye Hospital, Da Nang Eye Hospital, Can Tho Eye Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City Eye Hospital; Thanh Son, Lam Thao, Phu Vang, Phong Dien, Thot Not District Health Centers; and Thuc Luyen and Lam Thao township’s Commune Health Station.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).