The Direct Medical Cost of Acute Appendicitis Surgery in a Resource-Limited Setting of Papua New Guinea.

Background: Acute appendicitis is a common surgical emergency, and challenges in access to surgery in a low middle-income country can direct cost implications.

Methods: A prospective cost of illness study was conducted at Alotau Provincial Hospital (APH) from October 14, 2019, to June 1, 2020. A bottom-up approach of microcosting was used to estimate the direct medical cost of consecutive patients with acute appendicitis undergoing surgery.

Results: The mean cost of acute appendicitis surgery for each patient was K39,517.66 (US$11,460.12) for uncomplicated appendicitis, K45,873.99 (US$13,303.46) for complicated appendicitis and K38,838.80 (US$ 11,263.25) for a normal appendix. In total, the direct medical cost for acute appendicitis in this study was K4,562,625.29 (US$ 1,323,161.33) with the majority of expenditure incurred by surgical ward expenses.

Conclusion: This study demonstrates that direct medical costs for uncomplicated appendicitis surgery in a resource-limited hospital are less expensive. As the pathology progresses, the cost also exponentially increases. Policy makers and clinicians must establish appropriate curative surgical services at secondary (NOM of acute appendicitis and laparoscopic surgery) and primary health-care levels to address acute appendicitis surgery as this can reduce costs.