Modelling the economic burden of SARS-CoV-2 infection in health care workers in four countries

Health care workers (HCWs) experienced greater risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study applies a cost-of-illness (COI) approach to model the economic burden associated with SARS-CoV-2 infections among HCWs in five low- and middle-income sites (Kenya, Eswatini, Colombia, KwaZulu-Natal province, and Western Cape province of South Africa) during the first year of the pandemic. We find that not only did HCWs have a higher incidence of COVID-19 than the general population, but in all sites except Colombia, viral transmission from infected HCWs to close contacts resulted in substantial secondary SARS-CoV-2 infection and death. Disruption in health services as a result of HCW illness affected maternal and child deaths dramatically. Total economic losses attributable to SARS-CoV-2 infection among HCWs as a share of total health expenditure ranged from 1.51% in Colombia to 8.38% in Western Cape province, South Africa. This economic burden to society highlights the importance of adequate infection prevention and control measures to minimize the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection in HCWs.

Huihui Wang, Wu Zeng, Kenneth Munge Kabubei, Jennifer J. K. Rasanathan, Jacob Kazungu, Sandile Ginindza, Sifiso Mtshali, Luis E. Salinas, Amanda McClelland, Marine Buissonniere, Christopher T. Lee, Jane Chuma, Jeremy Veillard, Thulani Matsebula, Mickey Chopra