Direct costs include which items in economic evaluations?

• A. Treatment, medications, and equipment
• B. Productivity loss
• C. Transportation costs
• D. Patient time costs

Answer: (A)

Direct costs are the resources consumed to deliver medical care. The actual treatment provided, the medications used, and any equipment required for the intervention represent these care resources that accrue as part of delivering the medical service. In contrast, productivity loss reflects economic impact from illness (an indirect cost), while transportation costs and patient time costs are costs tied to accessing care or the burden of illness but not the medical resources themselves. These are typically considered indirect or direct non-medical costs rather than direct medical costs. So the best fit for direct costs is treatment, medications, and equipment.