Cost study of the expanded programme on immunization in the Badulla Health area.

Abstract

The study found that the cost of fully immunizing a child under 1 year old with the six antigens in the sri lankan EPI ranged from Rs.61.47 to Rs.369.15(US$1.48 to US$8.89) with a mean of Rs.183.40 (US$ 4.41) in this area.These costs are low compared to international figures and confirm observations made during an earlier study.The mean cost per fully immunized child (FIC) was highest in the estate sector,and lowest in the municipal clinic at Badulla,with the costs for the rural sector falling between the two.The salary component accounted for the highest proportion of the costs,the average being 45.6 per cent.Salary costs were highest in the rural hospital sectors (55.4 per cent),and lowest among the key estates (32.8 per cent). Vaccines accounted for an average of 21.9 per cent of the total costs,while transport accounted for 9.2 per cent and capital,equipment and maintenance costs for 15.7 per cent on average.