A recent study we conducted (Udwadia et. al, The Health Economics of treating multi drug resistant tuberculosis in the Indian private sector) found that the average cost of treating a MDR-TB patient, in the Indian private sector to be Rs. 3.8 lakh, with a range from anything between Rs. 1.2 lakh to Rs. 22 lakh (1,700 to 32,500 USD), once all aspects of treatment are factored in. The breakdown of the cost heads is highlighted in the chart below.
In our cohort of 50 patients, on average, the cost of treatment was 235% of individual income and 53% of annual family income.
This is 296% more than the average Indians GDP. It is evident that treating MDR-TB in the private sector results in “catastrophic health costs” (defined by the WHO as > 40% of discretionary income).