Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is the most expensive area
where intensive nursing and medical care are provided
round the clock in a hospital. Intensive care beds account
for at least 10% of the hospital beds and 20-40% of all
hospital costs.[1]
Cost calculation is necessary to enhance conceptual
uniformity and to optimize resource consumption.
Despite the high costs associated with ICU stays, to
date there is a relative dearth of information relating
to the daily cost of ICU care in India. Also, we cannot
extrapolate findings from abroad to India. The average
Indian income being much lower than that in the
developed world makes intensive care unaffordable
by the majority. In the absence of comprehensive
insurance cover, more than 80% of patients have to
pay out of their pocket for healthcare services.[2] Based
on the National Sample Survey (60th round), in 2004,
63 million individuals or 12 million households fell
below poverty line due to health expenditures (6.2% of
all households).[3] Even more disconcerting is the fact
that more than 40% of those admitted to an ICU had to
borrow money or sell assets.[2,4] In addition, the staffing
patterns and their salaries are different in India from