This archive report was first published on 23 August 2020.
The Hidden Costs in Covid-19 Home-Based Care ¶
For Jerotich Seii and Eva Mutua, the decision to opt for home-based care after testing positive for Covid-19 was not just a choice, but a necessity. However, they soon realized that this option came with a hefty price tag.
Jerotich, who tested positive on July 22, spent more than Sh60,000 on initial and subsequent tests for herself, her husband, and her househelp. She also incurred significant expenses on doctor consultations, which were mostly done over the phone, as well as on food and other essential items.
‘The cost of home-based care is very high because you pay for everything yourself,’ Jerotich said.
Eva, on the other hand, spent Sh30,000 for the 40 days she was in isolation. She also incurred expenses on doctor consultations, food, and other essential items.
‘I spent Sh30,000 for the 40 days I was in isolation,’ Eva said.
Both women had to buy antibiotics, malaria drugs, anti-histamines, anti-inflammatory drugs, cough medication, zinc, and multivitamins. They also had to enhance their diets, which led to increased expenses on food.
‘I had to double my weekly grocery shopping from Sh2,500 to more than Sh5,000,’ Eva said.
Jerotich and Eva have been discharged from self-isolation and now hope that their respective insurance companies will reimburse the money they spent during home-based care. Above all, they hope the government will step in to support poor patients self-isolating at home.
‘It works for people like me: single, with my own bathroom and househelp, but can you imagine someone who lives with six children in a one-bedroom house in Kibera?’ Eva said.
Jerotich and Eva’s experiences highlight the need for government support for poor patients undergoing home-based care. The government should consider providing financial assistance to those who cannot afford the expenses associated with home-based care.
