[Approximation to the cost of occupational diseases treated in seven hospitals in Spain]

Abstract

Objective: To estimate the hospital cost of a sample of cases treated in seven hospitals of the National Health System in several Spanish cities.

Method: Study based on 78 cases of occupational disease recognized by the social security, and previously treated in hospitals in Badalona, Barcelona, Ferrol, Gijón, Girona, Madrid and Vigo between 2017 and 2019.

Results: The healthcare activity generated by these hospitals to attend these processes involved a total cost of 282,927€.

Conclusions: It is urgent to improve the coordination between the two public health systems, the social security health care system and the National Health System.

Keywords: Cost of disease; Costes de enfermedades; Enfermedad profesional; Health system; Occupational disease; Seguro social; Sistema de salud; Social insurance.