The operational cost of a urology unit.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the operational cost of a urology unit, individual cost for certain index operations in urology, and to develop a framework to audit finances of a unit.


METHODS
A financial audit.


METHODS
Urology unit in a teaching hospital.


METHODS
Data of cost in providing urology services during one month were collected. It included three main areas: ward, operating theatre and outpatient clinic. Direct costs included staff wages, drugs, consumables, investigations and food. Indirect expenses such as administration, water, electricity and cleaning services were also calculated. For each type of operation a relative value was assigned depending on the nature of the operation. When direct expenses were not available, the hospital was divided into different cost centres and apportioning of the cost was done accordingly.


RESULTS
The monthly operational cost of running a 19 bed urology unit with three operating sessions a week was Rs. 1 294 259. Staff wages constituted 61.2% of the cost. The cost of performing a pyelolithotomy was Rs. 18 669. Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) was done at a cost of Rs. 21 271.


CONCLUSIONS
When the basic principles and the framework are understood, clinicians can perform financial audit and cost analysis of their units.
Abeygunasekera
Anuruddha M
AM
Urology Unit, Karapitiya Teaching Hospital, Galle, Sri Lanka. amabey@sltnet.lk
Duminda
M T
MT
Chamintha
Thushara
T
Jayasingha
Ruwan
R
D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D006801:Humans; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000191:economics; D012456:Salaries and Fringe Benefits / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013188:Sri Lanka; D014573:Urology Department, Hospital / Q000191:economics*