[Economic-health care indicators in 2 health areas: the cost of the "consultation product" of primary health teams].

OBJECTIVE

To describe the main economic-healthcare indicators of Aragon Areas 2 and 5 in 1992. To quantify in economic terms the value of the medical and nursing consultations carried out by Primary Care teams.

DESIGN

Cost-analysis type study (total costs). The criteria for attributing indirect costs were established by consensus. The data correspond to 1992 (real spending by each centre). The cost of the consultations was calculated in function of the overall activity undertaken and in line with the type of consultation.

SETTING

Areas 2 and 5, Aragon. Calculation of the cost per consultation only for Primary Care teams (PCT).

RESULTS

Spending per inhabitant and per year, both overall and broken down into care and pharmacy costs was 20,140 for PCT's (8,805 pesetas + 11,355 pes) and 23,153 pes for the traditional model (7,677 + 15,476 pes). Costs per consultation were: 1,031 pes for General Medicine plus 2,537 on Pharmacy; 1,765 pes for Paediatrics plus 716 on Pharmacy; 972 on nursing. Costs per consultation were also offered in function of the duration of each type of consultation and the health-care delivered.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, PCT's generated less expense per each insured person than the traditionally-based Consulting rooms. This situation is mainly due to Pharmacy costs, where the difference is over 4,000 pesetas. The evaluation of service costs in function of attendance supposes that, between two teams of equal composition and the same volume of spending, the more efficient will be that which produces the greater amount of services.