Cost of vitamin A and iron supplementation to “at risk” population

Abstract

This is a cost descriptive study which estimates the cost of providing iron and vitamin A supplementation through the primary health care system in India. The norms for the primary health care workers were taken as per national norms. The costs included the proportionate cost of the building, workers’ salary and the cost of the supplements. The total cost of providing iron supplementation through the PHC was estimated at Rs. 43,800. The cost per beneficiary for adult folifer was Rs. 3.60, for paediatric folifer was Rs. 2.90 and for syrup folifer, it was Rs. 15.50. The overall cost of providing iron and folic acid supplements to the “at risk” population was estimated as Rs 4.40 per beneficiary per year. The cost of vitamin A supplementation to under three through the PHC system was estimated at Rs. 3.20 per beneficiary per year. Both iron as well as vitamin A supplementation through the PHC system appear to be low cost interventions.