Unit Costs of Primary Care Units: A Case study in Kamphaeng Phet, Fiscal Year 2018

Abstract

This research aimed to examine the unit costs of primary care units (PCU) and their service activities. This study collected data regarding service system and costs from 3 PCUs in Kamphaeng Phet, including  totally  6 sub-district health promoting hospitals (SHPH), during the fiscal year 2018. Cost estimation was derived from the real service activities in the SHPH. Total costs were approximated from sum of the total costs incurred at SHPHs and the associated costs incurred at Kamphaeng Phet Hospital as the hosting hospital. Three components of costs were evaluated: labor costs, material costs, and capital costs. Unit costs of service activities and unit costs per capita were calculated from the total costs divided by total outputs respecting to the costs.

          Results demonstrated that unit costs of out-patient visit for chronic disease by physicians and non-physicians were 813.9 and 189.8 Baht, respectively while unit costs of out-patient visit for general patients by physicians and non-physicians were 420.7 and 75.9 Baht, respectively. Unit costs of PCUs consisting of 1, 2, and 3 SHPHs were 584.2, 808.3, and 1,114.7 Baht, respectively. This study pointed out that the higher costs of out-patients service provided by physicians compared with non-physicians. Moreover, the rising number of SHPH under PCU may lead to an increase in unit costs.