Economic analysis of several types of malaria clinics in Thailand.

ABSTRACT

PIP: The costs of 3 types of malaria clinics in Maesot District, northwest Thailand, for a 1 year period in 1985-86 were compared from the institutional, community, and social (institutional + community) perspectives. The greatest number of patients at the lowest average institutional cost/smear and per positive case diagnosed (US $0.82) were seen at the large central clinic in Maesot town. The peripheral clinic in Popphra, a subdistrict town, had moderate institutional costs/smear and per positive case (US $1.58). The periodic mobile clinic which served 5 villages on a fixed weekly schedule had low average institutional costs/smear, but the highest cost/positive case (US $3.53). Community costs (those paid by patients and their families) were lowest in the periodic clinic. The addition of a periodic clinic to a system of central and peripheral clinics increased the number of malaria cases treated, particularly those involving women and under-16 year olds. Although the periodic clinic entailed a modest increase in institutional costs, it minimized social costs. The results of the study suggest that the use of a combination of central, peripheral, and periodic clinics, which maximizes access to malaria treatment, minimizes the social costs of the disease. (author's modified)