Student
Dissertation 1st Batch 
Out of pocket payment for inpatient pneumonia care in Dhaka City.
Rumana Jesmin Khan
Abstract
After all the primary care initiatives, childhood pneumonia is still the major killer of Bangladeshi children. The hospitalization rate is also high. It is to be noted also that many people do not even have access to the hospital. Studies show that a household has to spend substantial amount of out of pocket expenditure get the care even in a public or public subsidized hospital. More the portion spent from out of pocket the more is inequity in the health sector. Household difficulty in payment of health care expenses can result in the 'distress sale' of property, delay or abandonment of treatment, and sacrifice expenditures on food and education.
Pneumonia is a preventable disease and can be controlled by minimizing the risk factors. The recent development and availability of a highly efficacious vaccine to prevent pneumococcal and haemophilus disease has also engendered high hopes for dramatic public health benefits. They are expected to reduce the physical and financial sufferings due to childhood pneumonia. However, sufficient evidence is lacking to justify a focused prevention effort.
