Identifying costs contributing to catastrophic expenditure among TB patients registered under RNTCP in Delhi metro city in India.

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis (TB) patients often incur large costs related to illness, as well as for seeking and receiving health care. Despite TB treatment being free under RNCTP, out of pocket expenditure incurred (OOP) by patients for TB diagnosis and treatment impoverishes the households. This expenditure may turn catastrophic (more than 20% of their family income) impacting adherence and leading to poor treatment outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the proportion of households experiencing catastrophic expenditure due to TB and also to find out the various costs contributing to catastrophic expenditure.

METHODS: In this cohort study, 450 TB patients (including 96 children) registered under Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) in Delhi were interviewed at three different time points (in the beginning of treatment, end of intensive phase, end of treatment). Interview schedule was used to collect information on direct medical and non-medical, and indirect costs. The TB-specific indicator of "catastrophic total costs" incorporates both, direct medical and non-medical payments for treatment such as transportation, lodging charges and indirect costs such as wage loss.

RESULTS: A total of 450 patients were enrolled in this study, out of which 425 were followed up to the end of treatment. It was observed that 7% of TB patients registered under RNTCP in Delhi experienced catastrophic expenditure due to TB. The total mean cost to patients with TB was Rs. 12165 (Rs. 1406 during diagnosis and Rs. 10759 during treatment). The indirect cost was higher compared to direct cost i.e.Rs. 7564 and Rs. 4601 respectively).

CONCLUSION: This information will be useful for policy makers to design an intervention to provide financial protection to TB patients. In addition, findings of this study will aid in providing baseline evidence to periodically measure the OOP which is the one of the End TB strategy target.