This study examined out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditures for hospitalization in Bangladesh using data from the 2022 Household Income and Expenditure Survey covering 14,395 households. The average annual OOP cost per hospitalization was USD 418, nearly twice as high in private facilities as in public ones, with cancer and COVID-19 treatments being the most expensive. About 6.7–9% of hospitalized patients faced catastrophic health expenditure, and around 61% resorted to distress financing such as borrowing or selling assets. The findings highlight the substantial financial burden of hospitalization and the urgent need for stronger health financing policies in Bangladesh.
