Table 1. Pathways, pre-diagnosis direct OOP medical costs, and health systems delay among new adult pulmonary TB patients registered for DOTS in rural PHCs, Vellore district, India.

Pathways	n	%	Direct OOP medical costs in US $ Median (IQR)	Health systems delay (in days) Median (IQR)
First health visit in PHC to DOTS
PHC	21	2.4	0.00	10 (7–21)
PHC → PRH	34	3.9	0.00	14 (8–30)
PHC → ST	10	1.1	0.00	28 (17–52)
PHC → PVT	4	0.5	7.70 (4.20–39)	16 (15–20)
PHC → PVT → PRH/ST	7	0.8	31 (17–93)	20 (17–31)
Total first visit in PHC	76	8.7	0.00	17 (10–30)
First health visit in PRH to DOTS
PRH	162	18.4	0.00	14 (7–30)
PRH → ST	12	1.4	0 (0–0.50)	30 (22–67)
PRH → PVT	16	1.8	23 (12–71)	25 (12–30)
PRH → PVT → PRH/ST	9	1.0	8.30 (7.70–12.40)	18 (14–30)
Total first visit in PRH	199	22.6	0.00	14 (7–30)
First health visit in ST to DOTS
ST	24	2.7	0.00	30 (13–30)
ST → PRH	6	0.7	0.00	33 (14–60)
ST → PVT → PRH	1	0.1	15.50	18
Total first visit in ST	31	3.5	0.00	30 (14–30)
First health visit in PVT to DOTS
PVT	63	7.2	12.40 (5.80–31)	14 (7–30)
PVT → PRH	268	30.5	9.30 (4.40–18.60)	21 (14–30)
PVT → ST	70	8.0	11.60 (6.30–26)	30 (14–36)
PVT → PVT	60	6.8	43.80 (15.50–77.50)	30 (14–30)
PVT → PHC → PRH	17	1.9	7.70 (6.20–46.50)	20 (10–30)
PVT → PVT → PRH	76	8.6	31 (15.50–59.60)	30 (15–45)
PVT → PVT → PVT → PRH	17	1.9	77.50 (44–248)	30 (14–60)
Total first visit in PVT	571	65	13 (6.20–38.70)	25 (14–30)
First health visit in AYUSH to DOTS
AYUSH	3	0.3	31 (15.50–38.70)	30 (22–45)
First health visit in Public / Private health system / AYUSH to DOTS
First visit in Public health sector (PHC+PRH+ST)	306	34.7	0.00	15 (7–30)
First visit in Private health sector (PVT)	571	65	13 (6.20–38.70)	25 (14–30)
First visit in AYUSH	3	0.3	31 (15.50–38.70)	30 (22–45)
Overall	880	100	7.75 (0–23.20)	21 (10–30)

PHC–Private Health Centres, PRH–Public Referral Hospitals (secondary and tertiary referral centres), ST–Sanatorium, PVT–Private health facilities, AYUSH—Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy systems of medicine