Cost Analysis of an Electronic Medical Record System at an Urban Clinic in Kampala, Uganda

Authors

  • Bonny E Balugaba College of Health Sciences, Moi University, Eldoret 4606-30100, Kenya
  • Simon K Ruttoh College of Health Sciences, Moi University, Eldoret 4606-30100, Kenya
  • Elizabeth K Ekirapa School of Public Health, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
  • Abraham A Siika College of Health Sciences, Moi University, Eldoret 4606-30100, Kenya
  • Martin C Were Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, USA

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.12856/JHIA-2019-v6-i2-260

Abstract

Background and Purpose: While the benefits of electronic medical record systems (EMRS) are well known, the costs associated with their implementation in resource-constrained settings are not well documented. Establishing such costs is crucial for sound decision-making regarding allocation of scarce resources. This study aimed at conducting a comprehensive cost analysis for developing, implementing and maintaining an EMRS in a resource-constrained setting.

Methods: The study was conducted at an urban HIV/AIDS clinic in Kampala, Uganda using an organizational perspective. A cost inventory was used to collect costs from original receipts and invoices, and vendor market prices used where receipts could not be accessed for the 8 years under study. All costs were converted to the equivalent US dollar value and those with a lifetime more than one year annuitized.  A paper-based and an open-source record system were the comparators.

Results: The total direct cost of the system was USD 1,066,965 while an open-source instance would cost just over USD 800,000. The paper-based system cost was half the cost of the EMRS (USD 544,159). Salaries and wages contributed 70% (USD 757,332) and 81% (USD 438,842) of costs in the EMRS and paper-based system, respectively. The other major cost driver was software and licensing (20%, USD 258,341).

Conclusions: EMRS have higher costs as compared to paper-based medical record systems. However, expenditure on the system reduces with time. Salaries and wages are the largest contributors to the cost burden. Open-source systems have a potential to lower costs.

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Published

2020-03-07

How to Cite

Cost Analysis of an Electronic Medical Record System at an Urban Clinic in Kampala, Uganda. (2020). Journal of Health Informatics in Africa, 6(2), 84-89. https://doi.org/10.12856/JHIA-2019-v6-i2-260