Estimation of hospitalization costs of tobacco related illnesses in Lebanon -

Abstract

Tobacco smoking imposes a heavy burden on society, killing nearly six million people per year according to the WHO statistical releases. While tobacco consumption has been decreasing in industrialized countries, it is unfortunately increasing in developing countries. Tobacco related deaths are estimated to exceed eight million yearly by 2030, with more than 80percent of those deaths in developing countries. In Lebanon, it is estimated that more than 3500 citizen die each year from tobacco-related diseases. This paper attempts to assess one of the costs imposed by smoking by estimating both public and private healthcare expenditures on hospitalization cases of the following smoking-related disease groups: lung and bladder cancers, COPD, stroke, ischemic and hypertensive heart diseases. This study estimates that the public sector spends LBP 46,666,879,173 on hospitalization of lung and bladder cancers, heart diseases, COPD, and stroke while the private sector spends LBP 54,782,858,160 on hospitalization of the corresponding diseases. Also, total estimated hospitalization expenses for the selected disease groups form 2.71percent of GDP which is quite alarming considering that this study does not take into account all smoking related diseases. This paper aims at being a first step toward conducting a cost effectiveness analysis of various tobacco control policies that could be implemented in the future which is quite necessary to prompt the Lebanese government to impose further regulations aiming at reinforcing tobacco control in the country.