Abstract:
ackground: Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory diseases, and cancer are the leading causes of mortality worldwide. Like in most low-income countries, NCDs are the leading cause of death and long-standing disabilities in Ethiopia. NCDs pose a substantial financial burden. It causes comparatively high out-of-pocket (OOP) payments. This significant OOP payment creates financial barriers to accessing health services and puts people at risk of poverty.
Objective: To assess Out-of-Pocket Medical Expenditure on Non-communicable Diseases at the University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Gondar Town, Northwest Ethiopia, 2024
Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among NCD patients at the University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital from May 13 to June 21, 2024. A total of 438 NCD patients were selected from clinics at the hospital. Data was collected via a structured questionnaire. Data were entered into EpiData version 4.7.0.0, transferred to Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 29, then edited and analyzed. We applied multiple regression and nonparametric tests such as the Mann–Whitney U test.
Results: A total of 438 study participants were involved in the study with a response rate of 100%. The overall prescribed medicine availability was fairly high (mean 60.66%). The monthly median out-of-pocket health expenditure was Birr 600.00 (IQR Birr 648.75). Residence, type of disease, co-morbidities, health insurance, and prescribed medicine availability were factors significantly associated with OOP expenditures.
Conclusions: The overall prescribed medicine availability was fairly high (60.66%). The OOP medical expenditures among the insured are largely attributed to the unavailability of drugs at the UoGCSH, and direct costs were determined by place of residence, comorbidities, type of disease, insurance status, and medicine availability. The government should ensure financial protection and realize universal health coverage by acting on a risk pooling mechanism. Insured clients need to eliminate out-of-pocket payments for diagnostics tests and medicines.
