Cost saving with ultrasonography in a developing country district hospital.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the potential monetary reduction induced by the introduction of an ultrasound unit in a major district hospital in a developing country.


METHODS
Propective study.


METHODS
Patients referred with abnominal diseases and pregnancy.


METHODS
Wad Medani Teaching Hospital, Central Sudan.


RESULTS
Local specialists referring the patients stated that an estimated 792 radiologic procedures would have been carried out to obtain the same amount of information as achieved by ultrasound. Such procedures budgeted approximately 8100 US dollars, in terms of equipment, material and personnel by 1987 rates. Such savings have benefited all departments of the hospital.


CONCLUSIONS
The authors consider this as evidence for the fact that despite its initial high investment (15,000 US dollars), availability of ultrasound virtually reduced expenditure on other radiological diagnostic procedures. This is of special benefit for the limited budgets of hospitals in non-industrialised countries.
Ali
Q M
QM
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Omdurman, Sudan.
Roth
J
J
Abdel-Rahim
I M
IM
Franke
D
D
Kardorff
R
R
Schweisfurth
H
H
Doehring
E
E
D002201:Capital Expenditures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017046:Cost Savings; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D006767:Hospitals, District / Q000191:economics*; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D010564:Personnel, Hospital / Q000191:economics / Q000600:supply & distribution; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D013397:Sudan; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000191:economics* / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data