[Practicability of cataract surgery at university hospitals: searching for an economic model].
Resources available for health care all over the world are not enough to cover all the demand in this sector. Cataract Free Zones conducted in many regions of the country show that only 10% to 20% of blind patients caused by senile cataract can get operated on.


OBJECTIVE
To demonstrate feasibility of a model for cataract surgery with intraocular lens implantation at the Clinical Hospital from the University of Campinas, Unicamp, São Paulo, when considering the remuneration payed by the government for universitary services.


METHODS
Costs with disposable material were collected for extracapsular cataract surgery, with posterior intraocular lens implant, at the Clinical Hospital, Unicamp. The model includes outpatient surgery under local anesthesia, and costs rationalization in acquisition and wear of material. University Hospitals have a different situation in the health system, where fixed costs and part of the variable costs of cataract surgery are subsidized by the State government.


RESULTS
Cataract surgery performed under the proposed methodology is economically feasible, considering disposable components only, and the price achieved was US$ 77 with government payment of US$ 474. More surgical interventions increases the efficiency of the institution, provides more surgical training to residents and better community health care.


CONCLUSIONS
The authors consider that it is an obligation of University Hospitals, regard their commitment with training, research and quality of eye care deliverance, to increase the number of cataract surgeries for the lowest possible price.
José
N K
NK
Disciplina de Oftalmologia da Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Unicamp, Campinas, SP.
Delgado
A M
AM
Arieta
C E
CE
D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures; D001938:Brazil; D002387:Cataract Extraction / Q000191:economics*; D017046:Cost Savings; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007910:Lenses, Intraocular; D018803:Models, Economic
Exeqüibilidade da cirurgia de catarata em hospital-escola: em busca de um modelo econômico.