COST COMPARISON STUDY BETWEEN A PRIVATE SECTOR AND A PUBLIC SECTOR HOSPITAL IN PESHAWAR, KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA, PAKISTAN FOR MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION PATIENTS

OBJECTIVE : To determine cost comparison of private sector hospital; North West General Hospital (NWGH) and public sector hospital; Hayat Abad Medical Complex (HMC), for myocardial infarction (MI) patients. Methodology : The demographic data of the patients suffering from MI were collected from NWGH and HMC Hospital and Research Center Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pakistan. Frequency of MI patients were calculated from patients suffering from cardiovascular disease (CVD), total direct medical costs were calculated, average hospital stay as well as the Willingness to pay were also determine . RESULTS: Out of total 667 Cardiovascular disease (CVD) patients 241 patients were suffering from MI. Out of total 241 MI patients from both hospitals, 74 (30.71%) get treatment from NWGH and 167 (69.29%) get treatment from HMC. Average hospital stay of MI patients in HMC is 3.23 days and in NWGH is 1.63 days. Total average MI medical related cost in HMC is Pakistani Rupees (Rs.) 23650 and NWGH is Rs. 280425. Out of total 241 MI patients, 36.93% and 85.89% cannot bear the expenses of myocardial infarction related costs of HMC and NWGH respectively CONCLUSION : High Cost, low rate of hospitalization, lesser average hospital stay and larger number of patients who cannot bear the expenses of NWGH indicates that NWGH is expensive and not affordable for major population of KPK suffering from MI . KEY WORDS: Myocardial infarction (MeSH), Costs and Cost Analysis (MeSH), Length of Stay (MeSH)