OBJECTIVES

The objective was to calculate the indirect costs associated with the depression in single EU jurisdiction and establish the national base for indirect costs for this disease in cooperation with the key state stakeholders, the Ministry of Health (MoH), payers and Social Insurance Agency (SIA).

METHODS

: It was the retrospective national analysis, conducted by using real life data obtained directly from state-owned SIA and Ministry of Health of Slovak Republic. We performed the „bottom-up“ approach, which helped us identify, quantify and value resources in a disaggregated way, so that each element of the indirect costs was estimated individually and they were summed up at the end. Indirect costs were calculated for the total population of patients with depression in 2018.

RESULTS

: In 2018, 185 467 patients with depression (F32, F33) received any kind of reimbursed care, 5222 patients were absent in average 119 days from work and 2646 patients were long-term disabled and took disability pension. In cooperation with key stakeholders we identified (% from total indirect costs, EUR 1 = USD 1.1237, European Central Bank) following indirect costs associated with depression: sickness benefit costs €11.09 MIO (23%, $12.46 MIO), disability pension/long term disability €5.87 MIO (12%, $6.60 MIO) and costs associated with productivity loss due to depression based on the friction costs calculation approach €31.43 MIO (65%, $35.31 MIO). Total indirect costs associated with depression in productive patients in 2018 verified with key stakeholders were in 2018: €48 401 825 ($54 389 130).

CONCLUSIONS

: Thanks to cooperation with key stakeholders and payers and additional verification with MoH, we were able to establish important base for the indirect costs associated with depression. Indirect costs – as additional state payer costs – should play important role in complex evaluations of existing and new technologies coming to the segment of the depression treatment.