The cost of cataract surgery in a public health eye care program in Nepal

Abstract

Using data from the Lumbini Zonal Eye Care Program in Nepal, the authors estimated marginal costs, capital costs, and average recurring costs for a public health cataract program with and without donor agency overhead expenditures. Each estimate is useful for guiding decisions under certain conditions. Marginal costs are appropriate for short-term planning. Average in-country recurring cost figures are needed to project budgets for longer term program costs or major program expansion. A portion of donor agency overhead costs should be included if expansion requires more donor agency contributions. Marginal costs are estimated at US$3.01 per case. In country recurring costs are about $13.91. Capital costs excluding hospital construction are an additional $2.42. Seva's USA administrative expenditures in support of the cataract component of the program add about another $5.38. Total costs were about $21.71 per case.