Economic Analysis of ART Task Shifting in Limited Resource Setting Using Econometric Model: Ethiopia Case Study

The present study attempts to estimate cost differences associated with anti-retroviral therapy (ART) task shifting in a limited resource setting in Ethiopia, and to analyze the determinant factors for length and cost of a visit. A stratified random sample of health facilities was surveyed. An ordinary least square (OLS) regression model was employed. The average time spent by patients in ART services was estimated to be 8.5 minutes (Range: 1 to 60 minutes). The OLS model estimated that the median cost per visit for doctors was 15% higher than for the nurses, when controlling for type of facility and type of visit. We found that ART services were less costly when delivered by nurses and health officers, compared with doctors. Since task-shifting to less specialized health-care workers yields additional economic benefits, the expansion of ART task-shifting should be considered by healthcare policy makers and stakeholders in a limited resource settings.