Economic Costs Attributable to Smoking in China: Update and an 8-year Comparison, 2000–2008

Lian Yang, Hai-Yen Sung, Zhengzhong Mao, Teh-wei Hu and Keqin Rao

Chapter 2 in Economics of Tobacco Control in China:From Policy Research to Practice, 2016, pp 9-28 from World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd.

Abstract: Objective —To estimate the health-related economic costs attributable to smoking in China for persons aged 35 and older in 2003 and in 2008 and to compare these costs with the respective results from 2000.Methods — A prevalence-based, disease-specific approach was used to estimate smoking-attributable direct and indirect economic costs. The primary data source was the 2003 and 2008 China National Health Services Survey, which contains individual participant's smoking status, healthcare utilization, and expenditures.Results—The total economic cost of smoking in China amounted to $17.1 billion in 2003 and $28.9 billion in 2008 (both measured in 2008 constant US dollars). Direct smoking-attributable healthcare costs in 2003 and 2008 were $4.2 billion and $6.2 billion, respectively. Indirect economic costs in 2003 and 2008 were $12.9 billion and $22.7 billion, respectively. Compared to 2000, the direct costs of smoking rose by 72% in 2003 and 154% in 2008, while the indirect costs of smoking rose by 170% in 2003 and 376% in 2008.Conclusion—The economic burden of cigarette smoking has increased substantially in China during the past decade and is expected to continue to increase as the national economy and the price of healthcare services grow. Stronger intervention measures against smoking should be taken without delay to reduce the health and financial losses caused by smoking.

Keywords: China; Health Economics; Tobacco Control; Public Health; Smoking; WHO; Taxation; Tobacco Tax (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
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