Abstract

DURAN-ARENAS, Luis et al. Direct cost analysis of hemodialysis units. Salud pública Méx [online]. 2011, vol.53, suppl.4, pp.516-524. ISSN 0036-3634.

OBJECTIVE. To estimate and compare direct costs per hemodialysis session in public and private units in Mexico City. MATERIAL AND METHODS. PAATI, a microcosting strategy, was used to determine total costs of four public and two private health hospitals in Mexico City. A "shadow study" approach was employed to collect the needed data. Charts containing the "PAATI" information for each session were developed in Microsoft Excel. RESULTS. The average annual cost per patient undergoing hemodialysis in public units is $158 964.00 MX. The estimated cost for the care of all population estimated in need of renal replacement therapy (via hemodialysis) was estimated to be $10 921 788 072.00 MX. CONCLUSION. Human resources and infrastructure availability in México are very limited for nephrology, and in consequence for offering hemodialysis services.

Keywords : hemodialysis units; hospital; costs and cost analysis; health care costs; health economics; source allocation; Mexico.