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76 Hyperbaric Oxygenation Therapy KCE Reports 74
Figure 37. One-way sensitivity analysis: impact of equipment lifetime on cost
per session (6-place chamber, two sessions per day, and 90% occupancy rate)
cost per session
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5.9.7 Discussion
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equipment lifetime
The largest cost component of the hyperbaric therapy is the personnel cost (48-77%
varying from scenario for multiplace chambers), followed by the investment cost of the
hyperbaric chamber (15-32%). The cost of oxygen and pressurized air is only marginal
(1-6%).
The cost of running a monoplace chamber is significantly higher than that of a multiplace
chamber. If a monoplace chamber is used one session a day with an occupancy rate of
90%, the cost per session is on average €311, compared to the cost of a 6- and 12-place
of €102 and €58, respectively, taking into account the same number of sessions per day
(one session) and occupancy rate (90%). The significantly larger cost for the monoplace
chamber is driven by the higher average personnel cost per patient and the relatively
larger investment cost per patient (in absolute numbers).
Furthermore, and not surprisingly, we observe that a higher occupancy rate and more
sessions per day result in a lower average cost per session. Moreover, we also notice
that in order to control the personnel costs, it is more cost-efficient to work fewer
sessions per day with a higher occupancy rate, than vice versa. For example, in a 12place
chamber, one session per day with a 90% occupancy rate results in an average
cost per session of €58. In contrast, three sessions per day with a 30% occupancy rate,
offering the same amount of patient sessions, results in an average cost of €107.
Currently, HBOT centres offer one or two sessions per day. With two sessions per day
and an occupancy rate of 90%, a monoplace chamber offers 432 treatment sessions per
year. This is nearly 2 600 and 5 200 patient sessions per year for a 6-place and 12-place
chamber, respectively. Currently, there is no shortage of capacity since several centres
have a lower occupancy rate and because more treatment sessions per day could be
offered.