Evaluation of alternate outreach models for cataract services in rural Nepal

BMC Ophthalmology

Table 1 Costs of Diagnostic Screening and Treatment Camps 2006-07 and 2007-08

Year	2006/07	2007/08
Per diem*	107,664	93,775
Transportation expenses	231685	125852
Salary for Ophthalmic Assistants and Nurses**	103,445 (for 171 days)	122,642 (for 75 days)
Publicity	9,547	17,458
Other expenses	8,820	7,738
Transportation including vehicle depreciation, repair and insurance***	90142	41792
Total	551303 (US$7875)	409257 (US$5,846)
DSTs	151	75
Cost per DST	3651 (US$52.15)	5456 (US$77.95)
Total cataract patients transported for surgery	2069	1826
Average cataract surgical patients transported per DST	14	24
Cost per cataract patient transported	3.80 (US$)	3.20 (US$)

* Per diem is a daily wage supplement paid in addition to regular salary while away from the hospital
** In 2007/08 the salary for hospital staff increased by 27% and the number of people per DST increased from 2 to 4. As a result, DST camps in 06/07 had 342 person-days, while DSTs in 07/08 had 300 person-days.
*** In each year the total cost of maintenance, insurance and fuel was divided by the number of days the vehicle was with the DST i.e for 2006/07, 151 DST days = 151/365 (41%) of annual cost; for 2007/08, 75 DST days = 75/365 (20%) of total annual cost.
*** Exchange rate US$ 1 = Nrs.70

ISSN: 1471-2415