Economic burden of malaria in India: The need for effective spending
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World Health Organization. Regional Office for South-East Asia
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About 95% of India’s population resides in malaria-endemic areas and, accordingto government sources, 80% of malaria reported in the country is confinedto populations residing in tribal, hilly, difficult and inaccessible areas. Using anationally representative sample, this study has estimated the economic burdenof malaria in India by applying the cost-of-illness approach, using the informationon cost of treatment, days lost and earnings foregone, from the National SampleSurvey data. A sensitivity analysis was carried out, by presenting two alternativescenarios of deaths. The results indicate that the total economic burden frommalaria in India could be around US$ 1940 million. The major burden comes fromlost earnings (75%), while 24% comes from treatment costs. Since mortality is low,this is not a major source of economic burden of malaria. An analysis of the trendand patterns in public expenditure by the National Vector Borne Disease ControlProgramme shows a declining focus of the central government on vector-bornediseases. Also, allocation of financial resources among states does not reflect theburden of malaria, the major vector-borne disease in the country
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