Page 168 - Timeliness of Infectious Disease Notification & Response Systems - Corien Swaan

166 Chapter 8
Abstract
The recent epidemic of Ebola virus disease (EVD) resulted in countries world- wide to prepare for the possibility of having an EVD patient. In this study, we es- timate the costs of Ebola preparedness and response borne by the Dutch health system. An activity-based costing method was used, in which the cost of staff time spent in preparedness and response activities was calculated based on a time-recording system and interviews with key professionals at the health- care organisations involved. In addition, the organisations provided cost infor- mation on patient days of hospitalisation, laboratory tests, personal protective equipment (PPE), as well as the additional cleaning and disinfection required. The estimated total costs averaged €12.6 million, ranging from €6.7 to €22.5 million. The main cost drivers were PPE expenditures and preparedness activi- ties of personnel, especially those associated with the ambulance services and hospitals. There were 13 possible cases clinically evaluated and one confirmed case admitted to hospital. The estimated total cost of EVD preparedness and re- sponse in the Netherlands was substantial. Future costs might be reduced and efficiency increased by designating one ambulance service for transportation and fewer hospitals for the assessment of possible patients with a highly infec- tious disease of high consequences.