Assessing Direct Non-Medical and Indirect Costs for Patients Migrating from Underserved to Developed Regions in Iran: A Study from 2020-2021

Background: Access to healthcare services is a prerequisite for societal justice. Unfair distribution of these services can lead to patient migration to cities with higher quality medical centers for better medical services. This study aimed to determine the direct and indirect non-medical costs of patients referred from Sistan and Balouchestan to hospitals in Mashhad.Methods: A descriptive-analytic study was conducted in Eastern Iran in 2020. The research sample included all patients who migrated from Sistan and Balouchestan to Mashhad for medical purposes and were hospitalized in government hospitals affiliated with Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. The total number of these patients was 2062, and they were identified using a census method in 2020. Given the large population size (2060 individuals), 350 patients were selected as a sample based on the Cochrane method. A validated checklist was used for data collection, and SPSS-23 software was used for data analysis.Results: The average direct non-medical cost for medical services in Mashhad was 61,686,857 Rials (270 USD). The highest and lowest costs were related to travel costs (26,545,714 Rials or 116 USD), and care received for children (37,142 Rials or 0.16 USD), respectively.Conclusion: According to the results of this research, an increase in direct non-medical and indirect costs due to patient migration for treatment imposes significant costs on patients and their families. It is crucial to have an equitable distribution of health and treatment resources and facilities across a country’s geographical regions to ensure access to health services.