Cost analysis showed that feeding preterm infants with donor human milk was significantly more expensive than mother's milk or formula. (22nd November 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fengler, Josefine; Heckmann, Matthias; Lange, Anja; Kramer, Axel; Flessa, Steffen
• Is Part Of: Acta pædiatrica. Volume 109:Number 5(2020)
• Page Start: 959
• Page End: 966
• Publication Date: 2019-11-22
• Subjects: cost analysis -- donor human milk -- maternal breast milk -- milk bank -- preterm infant; Pediatrics -- Periodicals; Pediatrics; 618.92
• DOI: 10.1111/apa.15087
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0803-5253

Abstract

Abstract: Aim: This study analysed the comparative cost of feeding donor human milk to preterm infants compared to mother's own milk and formula. Methods: A document and process analysis and a time measurement study were carried out at the milk bank of the Level 1 Perinatal Center of the University Hospital of Greifswald, Germany, from April to June 2017. The cost analysis data were provided by the University's financial department. Results: The total cost per year was €92 085.02 for 300 litres of donor human milk: 27% of this was material costs, 51% was personnel costs, and 22% was other overheads. The average cost per litre was €306.95, and staff time was 492 minutes per litre. The total marginal cost for each additional litre of donor human milk, formula or unpasteurised mother´s milk was €82.88, €10.28 and €38.42, respectively. Pasteurising a litre of donor milk cost €3.51. Conclusion: Providing preterm infants with donor milk was much more expensive than using formula or mother's own milk, but the cost of pasteurisation was minimal.