Cost saving with ultrasonography in a developing country district hospital

Objective: To estimate the potential monetary reduction induced by the introduction of an ultrasound unit in a major district hospital in a developing country. Design: Propective study. Subjects: Patients referred with abnominal diseases and pregnancy. Setting: 'Wad Medani Teaching Hospital, Central Sudan. Results: Local specialists referring the patients stated that an estimated 792 radiologic procedures would have been carried out to obtain the same amount of information as achieved by ultrasound. Such procedures budgeted approximately 8100 US dollars, in terms of equipment, material and personnel by 1987 rates. Such savings have benefited all departments of the hospital. Conclusion: The authors consider this as evidence for the fact that despite its initial high investment (15000 US dollars), availability of ultrasound virtually reduced expenditure on other radiological diagnostic procedures. This is of special benefit for the limited budgets of hospitals in non-industrialiied countries.East African Medical Journal, May 1999, 272-27