Abstract: Objective To explore the barriers to anti-TB treatment for rural-to-urban migrant TB patients in Shanghai. Method34 rural-to-urban migrant lived in six districts were in-depth interviewed. ResultsMany migrant patients experienced high treatment costs both before and after their TB diagnosis. Migrant patients experienced high living costs in Shanghai. Migrant patients had a limited knowledge of TB and the free treatment policy, and hold various attitudes to reimbursement procedure. ConclusionsRural-to-urban migrant TB patients are facing tremendous economic difficulties during the diagnosis and treatment process in Shanghai. The free treatment policy has little if any effect in reducing migrant patients’ financial stress. It’s imperative to contain the general public hospitals and provide social welfare to migrants to support their treatment.

Key words: pulmonary tuberculosis/therapy, pulmonary tuberculosis/economics, residential mobility, Shanghai city