In the absence of social protection coverage, what costs are entailed in seeking healthcare?
Seeking care at the time of illness may entail: • Direct medical costs for prevention, care and cure, such as user fees for pre-natal consultations, for general consultations, fees for laboratory exams, drugs fees; • Direct non-medical costs, such as: costs for transportation, food, small equipment in case of hospital stay for the caretaker, etc; • “Hidden” costs such as under-the-table payment (in addition to official fees) and unofficial fees (in care free context) for instance in contexts where health officers want or need to supplement their salary.
