Operating costs of the integrated ARV/Methadone clinics in Ho Chi Minh city

Abstract

      The study describes the operating costs of ARV and Methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) outpatient clinics in Binh Thanh District and District 6 before and after integration (2013 and 2014), the differences in operating costs and fixed costs (including staffing and administrative costs) between the two phases. This study used retrospective, cross-sectional design based on existing records. Results from cost analysis of 6-month period, before and after integration, in the two clinics show that operating costs and fixed costs decrease significantly after integration while the number of patients increases or remains unchanged. Those results initially determine that the integration of ARV and MMT services saves fixed costs at the two clinics.