A study of 5,000 stroke patients over five months in 62 hospitals from across China has found that over 70% of stroke survivors experience a major financial impact from loss of income and costs of health care. Over 30% of the total household income of stroke patients is devoted to ongoing health-care payments, and this is enough to push more than a third of stroke patients below the poverty line.
Dr Wu Yangfeng, director of The George Institute, China, and co-author of the article, 'Role of health insurance in averting economic hardship in families after acute stroke in China' (Stroke, 2009; 40:2149), said: ‘Stroke is the most common single cause of death in China, which has contributed to a rising economic burden from health care costs. This study provides the first true picture of the economic effects of stroke on families, showing that stroke imposes catastrophic financial pressure, with many at risk of impoverishment.’
The study found that the worst-affected financially by stroke are main income earners who do not have health insurance, with up to 60% of health care expenditure financed by direct payments by the individuals affected. Because having health insurance can cushion the effects, the lead author, Dr Emma Heeley, The George Institute, noted that ‘Given the rate stroke and chronic disease is increasing, there is a strong need for accelerating initiatives to expand health insurance coverage in both urban and rural settings in China and other developing countries’, particularly to women, low-income earners and rural communities. The Chinese government is launching a nationwide health system reform to improve its citizens’ health by 2020.
Source: Medical News Today, 9 May 2009.