Abstract: Objective  To analyze the medical expenses and economic burden of pulmonary tuberculosis(TB) patients in Hohhot,Kaifeng and Lianyungang city, and to provide a basis for the future development of TB control policies and strategies.   Methods  We randomly sampled 100 cases of pulmonary TB patient from all the local patients who had ever treated in the TB specialist hospitals (including outpatient and inpatient) between April 30, 2008 and April 2009 in the three cities and had completed the treatment before the survey. In November-December 2009, we completed the site investigation of the total 100 cases of pulmonary TB patients, 32 cases from Hohhot of Inner Mongolia, 32 cases from Kaifeng City of Henan and 36 cases from Lianyungang City of Jiangsu respectively. The purpose of the survey is to understand the economic situation of patients’ family and the expenses during the treatment period, and analyze medical expenses and economic burden of patients.   Results  Among 100 cases of patient investigated in the three cities, the average monthly medical expenses accounted for 94.6% to 119.0% of household average monthly non-food expenditure. 84.4% (27/32), 90.6% (29/32) and 88.9% (32/36) of patients respectively in Hohhot, Kaifeng and Lianyungang had catastrophic health expenditure.  Conclusion  The medical expenses of pulmonary TB in three cities is high, and of burden the disease economic was heavy.

Key words: Tuberculosis, pulmonary/economics, Fees, medical, Cost of illness