One in four surgical patients in Ethiopia experiences CHE, with increased vulnerability among unmarried individuals, smaller households, and those undergoing trauma-related procedures. Medication and non-medical costs, such as transportation, remain significant financial burdens. These findings highlight urgent gaps in financial protection and underscore the need for targeted policy reforms, such as improved access to medicine, transportation support, and expanded safety nets, to reduce out-of-pocket surgical costs and promote equitable access to care.
Iverson et al. (Sat,) studied this question.