The Burden of Hiv/AIds in the Public Healthcare System

Given current lack of routine data, assessing the burden of HIV/AIDS on the public healthcare system is complex. This research aimed to collect a wide range of data that could be used to estimate this burden and the costs of meeting it. Data collection was undertaken by research doctors who were employed in a wide spectrum of facilities to compile information on patients' HIV‐status, retrospective utilisation of services and unit costs of care. Key results indicated that the percentage of expenditure on HIV‐related care was 26% across all facilities. HIV‐positive patients had higher utilisation of services compared to other patient groups; the annual cost per patient was estimated to be R4,813 (2007/08 prices). Results should be interpreted in the light of the underlying population need and context‐specific access barriers.