Economic Costs Analysis of the Avoidable Mortality in Colombia 1998-2011

To estimate the economic costs of avoidable mortality (AM) in Colombia during the period 1998 to 2011, with the human capital perspective valuing the productivity lost.

The information of cases of avoidable death was identified from the Colombian official general mortality database, and we estimated the potential productivity years of life lost, assuming a productive life span between 18 years and 57 years and 18 years and 62 years in women and men, respectively. Two scenarios were built: lower loss with the minimum wage, and higher loss with the per capita gross domestic product. Total costs for the period were reported by sex and health event. Average cost per 1000 people was also estimated. All costs were adjusted and reported in 2012 US dollars.

Sixty-eight percent of the total AM in Colombia during the period 1998 to 2011 occurred during or before the productivity age. The total AM costs were estimated to range between US $80.5 million and US $150.4 million. Higher costs of AM were incurred in men. Events from the injuries group caused the higher productivity lost.

All the avoidable deaths in Colombia have a huge economic impact from the productivity lost perspective, equivalent to between 1.6% and 3.0% of the annual gross domestic product. The cost analyses in public health are an additional input for decision making and prioritization of intervention.