The burden of @entity645 / XXXX on the Zambian health system.

@entity1 @entity10479 @entity645 @entity791 @entity58697 @entity204
This article presents the impact of @entity645 / @entity791 on the Zambian health system. The Ministry of Health is expecting an increase in hospital bed occupancy from 6% in 1990 to 43% in 2005. The increase is a result of the continued increasing number of @entity791 @entity1 hospitalized which also require longer hospital stays (15-80 days) and intensive medical care compared with other diseases. In addition, treatment of @entity58697 places a considerable strain on health service expenditures; wherein 90% are treated in hospitals or health centers. In 1999, the World Bank estimated that the cost of treating an @entity791 @entity1 from the time of diagnosis until @entity204 ranged from @entity10479 100-1100. In Zambia, the average cost ranges from @entity10479 3.31-7.25. An average daily cost of @entity10479 5 would accumulate to @entity10479 150 for a cumulative 30-day stay of an @entity791 individual. The cost could reach @entity10479 200 per @entity791 @entity1 if pharmaceuticals and other direct costs were added. @entity791 care expenditure is anticipated to increase from @entity10479 1.7 million in 1990 to @entity10479 12.9 million in 1995, and to @entity10479 21 million in 2005. The increased expenditure in @entity791 care threatens the deviation of fund allocation necessary for other important health care needs. This article underscores the burden on district health services in assuming responsibility for delivery of essential service package in terms of health care reforms.
