Assessment of Catastrophic Health Expenditure and Coping Strategies of Multi Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB) Patients in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Abstract

The World Health Assembly (WHA) in 2014 adopted the World Health Organization’s (WHO) END TB strategy containing three pillars among which TB affected families’ catastrophic costs to be zero percent by 2030. Tuberculosis (TB), which mostly affects the poorest of the poor, is an example of a disease that can substantially contribute to the disease poverty trap. Even though most countries have aimed to provide the diagnosis and treatment of TB free of charge, a number of studies have found out that patients are still subject to direct and indirect cost due to TB illness and care-seeking, hampering access and putting people at risk of financial ruin or further impoverishment. A number of health care financing schemes have been designed and implemented in Ethiopia. However, the status of catastrophic cost for TB in general and MDR- TB have not been established for the country.