Willingness to Pay for Antiretroviral Drugs Covered by Medical Insurance among People Living with HIV in 18 Chinese Cities.

Abstract

Objective: Antiretroviral drugs covered by medical insurance have been gradually used by people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLWH) in recent years in China. This study aimed to analyze their willingness to pay (WTP) for antiretroviral drugs.

Methods: A mixed-methods study design involving a cross-sectional survey and in-depth interviews was conducted. A cross-sectional survey was performed to collect data on the general characteristics, economic status, antiretroviral therapy (ART) status, and WTP of PLWH in 18 Chinese cities from August 2022 to February 2023. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the factors associated with WTP. Representatives of PLWH were interviewed via in-depth interviews, and the data were thematically analyzed.

Results: Among the 941 PLWH, 271 (28.80%) were willing to pay for antiretroviral drugs covered by medical insurance. For basic medical insurance for urban and rural residents, PLWH with the following characteristics were more willing to pay: an educational level of senior high school or technical secondary school, having an undergraduate degree or higher, frequently working away from their hometowns, and homosexual transmission. Off-farm workers and recipients of government medical aid were more unwilling to pay. For basic medical insurance for urban employees, PLWH with the following characteristics were more willing to pay: frequently working away from their hometowns; homosexual transmission; personal annual income ≥ 100,000 CNY; and adverse events of antiretroviral drugs. The main reasons for PLWH's WTP for antiretroviral drugs covered by medical insurance were that the drugs had fewer adverse events and were easier to administer. The main reasons for PLWH's unwillingness to pay were financial difficulties and privacy concerns.

Conclusion: Nearly one-third of PLWH are willing to pay for antiretroviral drugs covered by medical insurance. In the future, PLWH with a high WTP can be guided to use these drugs.