ABSTRACT
The expenditure on health care of pediatric patients was carried out at the Pediatric Out-Patient Department, Siriraj Hospital during September and October 1987. A total of 1,082 pediatric cases comprising of infants aged less than 5 (75%) and 6 to 12 years (25%) were studied. The most common illness 60.7%) was respiratory infections. The percentage incidence of the infection, gastrointestinal, dermatologic and allergic disorders was 12.5, 7.7, 7.2 and 6.7 respectively. 95.1 percent of all patients visited the hospital because of these five major illnesses. The average transportation expenditure of patients within the Bangkok Metropolis and out of Bangkok Metropolis was 13.4 and 43 bath per case. 3% went to the public health centers or government hospital, with an average expenditure of 19 baht per case. 97.8% of the patients paid for medications alone with an average expense of 31.7 baht per case, only 2.2 percent of the patients had to pay for laboratory tests. The average expenditure, of patients with dermatological problem paid the highest, 50 baht per case, for the medications, while those with the respiratory infections paid 29 baht per case. All the pediatric patients residing in the Bangkok Metropolis have to pay an average of 45 baht per case for transportation and medications.