Table of contents
- Acknowledgements
- Executive Summary
- 1. Introduction
2. Valuation Methodology- 3. Incidence of Foodborne Illness, Health Care and Lost Productivity
- 4. Health Care Service Costs
- 5. Cost of Surveillance and Control of Foodborne Illness8
- 6. Health Costs Borne by Businesses and Households
- 7. Industry Costs
- 8. Total Annual Cost of Foodborne Illness
- Appendix A: Epidemiological Data
Appendix B: Sources of Data for Costing Health Care Services- Appendix C: Cost of Foodborne Illness: Results From the Australia New Zealand Food Authority and Applied Economics
- Abbreviations
- References
The Annual Cost of Foodborne Illness in Australia
B6. Pharmaceuticals
The type and quantity of pharmaceuticals consumed was estimated from the National Gastrointestinal Survey 2001–02 or other sources (see Chapter 3).
The cost of the identified tests was extracted from the Pharmaceutical Benefits Schedule of fees, as published on the DoHA website at <http://www9.health.gov.au/mbs>.
For gastroenteritis there was a range of proprietary medications consumed within each category and, as the proportions had been estimated, a weighted average cost was derived as the cost parameter. Each medication used in the treatment of non-gastroenteritis diseases was valued separately. The costs of medications are presented in Table B1.
Table B1 Pharmaceutical costs, 2002
Pharmaceutical |
Unit cost ($) |
|---|---|
Antibiotics |
|
| Amoxycillin | 8.87 |
| Trimethaprim–sulphamethoxazole | 8.57 |
| Cloxacillin, dicloxacillin | 11.28 |
| Doxycycline | 7.34 |
| Erythromycin | 7.88 |
| Metronidazole | 8.66 |
| Metronidozole | 6.68 |
| Penicillin | 11.44 |
| Weighted average cost | 9.14 |
Diarrhoea treatment |
|
| Charcoal | |
| Electrolyte | 12.61 |
| Loperamide | 7.46 |
| Diphenoxylate–atropine | 7.89 |
| Weighted average cost | 8.83 |
Pain relief |
|
| Aspirin | 6.95 |
| Paracetamol + codeine | 11.50 |
| Dymadon | 7.67 |
| Paracetamol | 7.53 |
| Tramadol hydrochloride | 11.06 |
| Morphine | 11.52 |
| Weighted average cost | 8.12 |
Cramp relief |
|
| Hyoscine-N-butylbromide | 15.37 |
| Valium | 8.00 |
| Weighted average cost | 13.53 |
Nausea treatment |
|
| Antacid | 12.92 |
| Promethazine | 12.81 |
| Metoclopramide | 7.26 |
| Prochlorperazine | 9.21 |
| Weighted average cost | 8.83 |
Non-GE medications |
|
| Mebeverine hydrochloride | 28.56 |
| Psyllium fibre | 19.25 |
| Pyrimethamine | 13.80 |
| Prednisone | 7.55 |
| Sulfadiazine | 18.14 |
| Naproxen | 17.42 |
Table B2 Laboratory and pathology diagnostic tests/examinations costs, 2002
Test/examination |
Code |
Unit cost ($) |
|---|---|---|
Laboratory tests |
||
| Electrolytes | 65060 |
9.75 |
| Antibody titres | 69475 |
15.75 |
| IgG | 711066 |
14.80 |
| IgM | 71072 |
14.80 |
| IgA | 711068 |
14.80 |
| Creatinine | 66500 |
9.75 |
| Stool (occult blood) | 12500 |
252.05 |
| Stool culture | 69345 |
51.65 |
| HLA-B27 | 71147 |
110.15 |
| Liver function | 66500 |
9.75 |
| Erythrocyte sedimentation rate | 65060 |
7.95 |
| Full blood count | 65070 |
17.20 |
| Urinalysis | 69333 |
6.40 |
| Microscopy of urine | 69312 |
20.70 |
| Rheumatoid factor | 71106 |
11.50 |
| Stool microbiology testing | 69330 |
128.85 |
Medical imaging |
||
| Barium meal | 12533 |
74.25 |
| Abdominal X-ray | 58900 |
33.65 |
| Ultrasound lower limb | 55834 |
99.90 |
| Lumbosacral X-ray | 58106 |
72.55 |
| Abdominal ultrasound | 55036 |
101.95 |
| Colonoscopy | 32087 |
170.15 |
Page currency, Latest update: 30 March, 2006