ABSTRACT
Background: Achieving Universal Health Coverage according to The World Health Assembly’s way to reinforce the principle of human right to health in 2005 has been a huge task for India. India has one of the highest proportions of household out-of-pocket expenditures on health in the world, estimated at 71.1% in 2008–09. The unpredictable payments are impoverishing an estimated 3.3% of India's population every year. In this regard various strategies have been adopted such as—reforming tax based health financing or introducing health insurance. This highlights the need for alternative finances which includes the provision of medical insurance. The study was conducted to assess the out-of-pocket health expenditure and estimate the prevalence of protective mechanisms against it in an urban area- Bangalore.Methods: A longitudinal study was conducted in the urban area of Bangalore. Sample size was calculated to be 350 households. Data regarding socio-demographic profile, protective mechanisms and other details were obtained by interview method using a pre-tested and semi-structured questionnaire.Results: Majority were in the productive age group i.e. 991 (62.68%) individuals. Female population was slightly higher in our study. Most of the households belonged to upper lower class (54.29%). A major burden of health care cost was experienced both in acute as well as chronic illness by the households. Only 8.9% (31 households) had one or the other type of health insurance.Conclusions: Population has profound chances of experiencing catastrophic health expenditure in times of severe illness.
ABSTRACT
Background: Clinical Biochemistry tests comprise over one third of all hospital laboratory investigation. The laboratory accreditation requirement has become an important aspect in selecting the analysers for analysing and evaluating the samples. Recently accrediting bodies are focusing on the importance of total quality management and assessment of trueness of laboratory measurements. The present study aimed to evaluate the hepatic enzymes using a single analytical methodology in 2 different automated analysers (semi autoanalyser and fully automated analyser) to understand the reliability of instrumentation on analytical methodology that would fit the laboratory performance standard. Methods: A total number of 50 serum samples from adult patients requested for liver function tests at Shri Sathya Sai medical college and research institute were analysed. The samples were evaluated for hepatic enzymes on (Cobasmira) Autoanalyser and (Biosystems) Semi Autoanalyser using the same analytical methodology and the values were compared between the 2 automated analysers. Data analysis was done by appropriate statistical methods. Results: No large differences were obtained in the values between the 2 automated analysers. Mean ± SD of each of the hepatic enzyme analysed by automated analysers were very close to each other indicating a minimum bias. Pearson’s correlation and scattered diagram showed significant positive correlation at 95% confidence interval between 2 automated analysers. Conclusion: The findings of this study confirm that both the automated analysers were reliable for evaluation of hepatic enzymes.