A decade of liver transplantation in Mongolia: Economic insights and cost analysis

Amarjargal Tsengel, Sergelen Orgoi, Otgonbayar Damdinbazar (), Bat-Ireedui Badarch, Urnultsaikhan Ganbold, Batsaikhan Batsuuri, Yerkyebulan Mukhtar, Batsaikhan Bat-Erdene, Liu Lei, Tserenbat Bazarsad, Undarmaa Zandanbazar and Gantugs Yundendorj ()
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Amarjargal Tsengel: First Central Hospital of Mongolia
Sergelen Orgoi: First Central Hospital of Mongolia, Organ Transplantation Center
Otgonbayar Damdinbazar: Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences
Bat-Ireedui Badarch: First Central Hospital of Mongolia, Organ Transplantation Center
Urnultsaikhan Ganbold: First Central Hospital of Mongolia
Batsaikhan Batsuuri: First Central Hospital of Mongolia, Organ Transplantation Center
Yerkyebulan Mukhtar: Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences
Batsaikhan Bat-Erdene: Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences
Liu Lei: Southern Medical University
Tserenbat Bazarsad: First Central Hospital of Mongolia, Organ Transplantation Center
Undarmaa Zandanbazar: First Central Hospital of Mongolia, Organ Transplantation Center
Gantugs Yundendorj: Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences

Health Economics Review, 2024, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract Background Mongolia introduced liver transplantation 10 years ago, becoming the 46th country globally to successfully perform this procedure. However, the cost of liver transplantation treatment remains expensive in Mongolia, a lower-middle-income country. Thus, the need to calculate the cost of liver transplants, a highly-valued treatment, forms the basis for this study. Methods This study employed a retrospective research design with secondary data. The primary dataset comprised 143 cases of liver transplantation performed at the First Central Hospital of Mongolia between 2011 and 2021. Results The average cost of a liver transplant in Mongolia is $39,589 ± 10,308, with 79.6% being direct costs and 20.4% indirect costs. Of the direct costs, 71% were attributed to drugs, medical equipment, and supplies, while 8.6% accounted for salaries. In terms of the Model of End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) scores, treatment costs were $39,205 ± 10,786 for patients with MELD ≤ 14 points, $40,296 ± 1,517 for patients with MELD 15–20 points, $39,352 ± 8,718 for patients with MELD 21–27 points, and $39,812 ± 9,954 for patients with MELD ≤ 28 points, with no statistically significant difference (P = 0.953). However, when calculated according to the Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) score classification, treatment cost for CTP-A patients was $35,970 ± 6,879, for CTP-B patients $41,951 ± 12,195, and for CTP-C patients $37,396 ± 6,701, which was statistically significant (Р=0.015). Conclusion The average cost of liver transplantation treatment in Mongolia was $39,589. Despite medical facilities’ capacity to treat up to 50 patients annually, the waiting list exceeds 300 individuals, highlighting significant unmet healthcare needs.

Keywords: Liver transplant surgery; Treatment costs; Disease severity; Mongolia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1186/s13561-024-00528-0

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