Ministry of Health launches first national tuberculosis patient cost survey

Photo Courtesy: MOH: The Director of Medical Services, Dr. Jackson Kioko hands over the findings of Kenyas First TB Patient Cost Survey report to the TB organizing Committee after the launch.

On 4 July 2018, the Ministry of Health through its National Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Lung Disease Program launched the first ever TB patient cost survey. The forum, had representatives from the National and County governments, development partners, as well representatives of affected communities and civil society organizations.

The cost survey, commissioned in January 2017, was primarily informed by several factors including: First, the Ministry acknowledged that TB is a major public health problem as Kenya remains one of the countries with a high burden of the infectious diseases. Second, the 2016 TB prevalence survey, which illustrated that TB affects the age bracket of 15-34 years, the most economically active age group. Lastly, the acknowledgment that the World Health Organization END TB strategy has high level targets that demand that no person with TB should suffer catastrophic costs due to TB.

The survey, which had 1,353 respondents, was conducted in 30 randomly selected counties and revealed the following:

  1. The proportion of TB affected households incurring catastrophic costs are higher in drug resistant TB patients;
  2. On average a drug resistant patient will spend Kshs 145,110 in the course of their treatment while drug sensitive patients will spend Kshs 25,800;
  3. 5% of drug resistant patients lost their jobs due to TB while Children in 9.3% households affected by TB had their education disrupted;
  4. 36% of TB patients experienced social exclusion; and
  5. 8% used coping strategies such as incurring loans and sale of household goods

As a result of these findings, the Ministry’s representative, Dr Eunice Mailu, encouraged a multi-sectoral approach in combating TB. This approach includes interventions such as enacting TB specific social protection measures, linking households to food security programmes and ensuring extended NHIF coverage. The Study further acknowledged that the above interventions must be complemented by enactment of policies and laws that eliminate discrimination and ensure job security for TB patients.

Forging ahead, KELIN will play its role in holding both the National and County governments accountable in the roll out of programmes that will ensure counties and communities are familiar with these findings, and invest appropriately to address these concerns.

To contribute to the discussion and for live updates follow KELIN on our social media platforms: Twitter: @KELINkenya; Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/kelinkenya

Attachments:

  1. Final Report of the TB Patient Cost Survey
  2. Factsheet on TB Patient costing survey
  3. Power point Presentation- Dissemination of TB Cost Survey

 

For more information contact:
Saoyo Tabitha,

Deputy Executive Director

Kenya Legal and Ethical Issues Network on HIV & AIDS (KELIN)
4th Floor, Somak Building, Mombasa Road
PO Box 112-00200, KNH
Email: tsaoyo@kelinkenya.org