Determinants of out-of-pocket expenditure on medicines among adults in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study

IntroductionTo achieve universal health coverage consistent with World Health Organization recommendations, monitoring financial protection is vital, even in the context of free medical care. Toward this end, this study investigated out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditure on medicines and their determinants...

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Main Authors: Mohammed Khaled Al-Hanawi, Mpho Keetile
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2024-11-01
Series:Frontiers in Medicine
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2024.1478412/full
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author Mohammed Khaled Al-Hanawi
Mohammed Khaled Al-Hanawi
Mpho Keetile
author_facet Mohammed Khaled Al-Hanawi
Mohammed Khaled Al-Hanawi
Mpho Keetile
author_sort Mohammed Khaled Al-Hanawi
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionTo achieve universal health coverage consistent with World Health Organization recommendations, monitoring financial protection is vital, even in the context of free medical care. Toward this end, this study investigated out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditure on medicines and their determinants among adults in Saudi Arabia.MethodsThis analysis was based on cross-sectional data derived from the Family Health Survey conducted by the General Authority for Statistics in 2018. Data analyses for this study were based on the total sample of 10,785 respondents. Descriptive statistics were used to identify the sample distribution for all variables included in the study. Tobit regression analysis was used to examine the determinants of OOP expenditure on medicines.ResultsThe average OOP expenditure on medicines was estimated to be 279.69 Saudi Riyal in the sampled population. Tobit regression analysis showed that age, average household monthly income, education level, and suffering a chronic condition were the main determinants of OOP expenditure on medicines. Conversely, being married and employed were associated with a lower probability of OOP expenditure on medicines.ConclusionThis study could assist policy makers to provide additional insurance funding and benefits to reduce the possibility of catastrophic OOP expenditure on medicines, especially for the most vulnerable demographic.
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spelling doaj-art-c590cc0f547149f48b68ceeb7bdf4a0e2025-08-20T02:12:54ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Medicine2296-858X2024-11-011110.3389/fmed.2024.14784121478412Determinants of out-of-pocket expenditure on medicines among adults in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional studyMohammed Khaled Al-Hanawi0Mohammed Khaled Al-Hanawi1Mpho Keetile2Department of Health Services and Hospitals Administration, Faculty of Economics and Administration, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi ArabiaHealth Economics Research Group, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Population Studies, University of Botswana, Gaborone, BotswanaIntroductionTo achieve universal health coverage consistent with World Health Organization recommendations, monitoring financial protection is vital, even in the context of free medical care. Toward this end, this study investigated out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditure on medicines and their determinants among adults in Saudi Arabia.MethodsThis analysis was based on cross-sectional data derived from the Family Health Survey conducted by the General Authority for Statistics in 2018. Data analyses for this study were based on the total sample of 10,785 respondents. Descriptive statistics were used to identify the sample distribution for all variables included in the study. Tobit regression analysis was used to examine the determinants of OOP expenditure on medicines.ResultsThe average OOP expenditure on medicines was estimated to be 279.69 Saudi Riyal in the sampled population. Tobit regression analysis showed that age, average household monthly income, education level, and suffering a chronic condition were the main determinants of OOP expenditure on medicines. Conversely, being married and employed were associated with a lower probability of OOP expenditure on medicines.ConclusionThis study could assist policy makers to provide additional insurance funding and benefits to reduce the possibility of catastrophic OOP expenditure on medicines, especially for the most vulnerable demographic.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2024.1478412/fulldeterminantsexpenditureout-of-pocketmedicinesSaudi Arabia
spellingShingle Mohammed Khaled Al-Hanawi
Mohammed Khaled Al-Hanawi
Mpho Keetile
Determinants of out-of-pocket expenditure on medicines among adults in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study
Frontiers in Medicine
determinants
expenditure
out-of-pocket
medicines
Saudi Arabia
title Determinants of out-of-pocket expenditure on medicines among adults in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study
title_full Determinants of out-of-pocket expenditure on medicines among adults in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study
title_fullStr Determinants of out-of-pocket expenditure on medicines among adults in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study
title_full_unstemmed Determinants of out-of-pocket expenditure on medicines among adults in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study
title_short Determinants of out-of-pocket expenditure on medicines among adults in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study
title_sort determinants of out of pocket expenditure on medicines among adults in saudi arabia a cross sectional study
topic determinants
expenditure
out-of-pocket
medicines
Saudi Arabia
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2024.1478412/full
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AT mphokeetile determinantsofoutofpocketexpenditureonmedicinesamongadultsinsaudiarabiaacrosssectionalstudy