Kamban Hirasen is a Senior Researcher at the Health Economics and Epidemiology Research Office (HE2RO) in Johannesburg, South Africa. He has a background in Demography and is currently a mid-stage Health Economics PhD candidate at the University of Cape Town. His current research focuses on the patient, provider and societal costs of drug-resistant and drug-sensitive Tuberculosis.
Without accounting for pre-diagnosis and on-treatment costs, half of households experiencing TB-related death incurred catastrophic costs resulting from funeral/burial expenses. Additionally, the cost of TB-related death ($1,310) was equivalent to half a year’s household income ($2,710), likely financially devastating for surviving household-members.
Source: Conference 2024Even before obtaining a formal diagnosis, patients incur costs of $30.8 across multiple healthcare providers (equivalent to a month’s pre-diagnosis household income $32.4). In settings like South Africa, where TB services are provided at zero-cost, costs incurred whilst seeking a DR-TB diagnosis can be detrimental to patients’ economic well-being and subsequent TB treatment.
Source: Conference 2024