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Tuberculosis patient expenditure on drugs and tests in subsidised, public services in China: a descriptive study.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Liu, Q; Smith, H; Wang, Y; Tang, S; Wang, Q; Garner, P
Published in: Trop Med Int Health
January 2010

OBJECTIVE: To measure patient expenditure on additional drugs and tests in public services where tuberculosis (TB) drugs are supplied for free. METHODS: Questionnaire survey of patients currently on treatment in eight TB dispensaries in two provinces; in depth interviews with providers at the facilities. RESULTS: Liver protection drugs (141/163) were prescribed for 86% of patients, 93% had one or more tests in the last month, and 23% were on treatment past the World Health Organization-recommended treatment duration. All but two patients were charged for something in cash at each visit: on average 287 Chinese Yuan (40 US dollars) in the previous month. For patients below the poverty line, drug and test expenditure was 1.85 times their average household monthly income. Average charges varied little between income categories. In terms of anti-TB drugs prescribed, 17.8% of regimens were inadequate by international standards. Providers reported they prescribe liver protection drugs to avoid medical negligence, and they believed they were effective; and the government subsidy for providing TB treatment was simply not enough. CONCLUSIONS: Despite an ostensibly fully subsidised TB programme in China, patients are charged substantive amounts irrespective of income. Research is needed to confirm these practices are widespread but this needs to be coupled with financing strategies to tackle it.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Trop Med Int Health

DOI

EISSN

1365-3156

Publication Date

January 2010

Volume

15

Issue

1

Start / End Page

26 / 32

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Tuberculosis
  • Tropical Medicine
  • State Medicine
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Public Health
  • Middle Aged
  • Malpractice
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infant
 

Citation

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Liu, Q., Smith, H., Wang, Y., Tang, S., Wang, Q., & Garner, P. (2010). Tuberculosis patient expenditure on drugs and tests in subsidised, public services in China: a descriptive study. Trop Med Int Health, 15(1), 26–32. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3156.2009.02427.x
Liu, Qin, Helen Smith, Yang Wang, Shenglan Tang, Qingliang Wang, and Paul Garner. “Tuberculosis patient expenditure on drugs and tests in subsidised, public services in China: a descriptive study.Trop Med Int Health 15, no. 1 (January 2010): 26–32. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3156.2009.02427.x.
Liu Q, Smith H, Wang Y, Tang S, Wang Q, Garner P. Tuberculosis patient expenditure on drugs and tests in subsidised, public services in China: a descriptive study. Trop Med Int Health. 2010 Jan;15(1):26–32.
Liu, Qin, et al. “Tuberculosis patient expenditure on drugs and tests in subsidised, public services in China: a descriptive study.Trop Med Int Health, vol. 15, no. 1, Jan. 2010, pp. 26–32. Pubmed, doi:10.1111/j.1365-3156.2009.02427.x.
Liu Q, Smith H, Wang Y, Tang S, Wang Q, Garner P. Tuberculosis patient expenditure on drugs and tests in subsidised, public services in China: a descriptive study. Trop Med Int Health. 2010 Jan;15(1):26–32.
Journal cover image

Published In

Trop Med Int Health

DOI

EISSN

1365-3156

Publication Date

January 2010

Volume

15

Issue

1

Start / End Page

26 / 32

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Tuberculosis
  • Tropical Medicine
  • State Medicine
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Public Health
  • Middle Aged
  • Malpractice
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infant