Economic Burden of Rabies: An Experience from a Tertiary Care Hospital in Kashmir, India

Background: Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is the mainstay of prevention in suspected exposure to rabies virus. Exposed patients are able to obtain anti-rabies vaccine in the anti-rabies clinic pro bono but they have to pay for passive immunization and cover other associated costs.

Aim: To estimate and analyze the direct and indirect costs of rabies PEP.

Methods: This study was conducted on 429 patients, who were exposed to bites from various animals and reported to Shri Mahraja Hari Singh Hospital (SMHS), an associated tertiary hospital of Government Medical College, Srinagar, Kashmir. Patient socio-demographic profile, details of animal bite exposure, the cost incurred for PEP was collected. The data were analyzed using a descriptive statistic.

Results: The study revealed a total median cost incurred on patients for receiving a PEP as 29.3 USD (United States Dollar), with an Inter-quartile Range (IQR) of 0.2 USD to 43.1USD. The direct median cost was 20.5 USD with an IQR of 6.2 USD to 29.4USD, while the indirect median cost was 20.3USD with an IQR of 13.5USD to 24.4USD.

Conclusion: Post-exposure prophylaxis imposes a significant economic burden to bite victims especially those of low socio-economic strata for whom the cost is substantial.