Introduction Providing of occupational health services for workers is considered as essential services. But informal workers have less accessibility to the services, and the cost of providing such services is not available. This study aimed to analyses the cost of providing occupational health services for informal workers at sub-district hospital level.

Method Data were collected form 14 Sub-district hospitals provided occupational health services in Khon Kaen province, Thailand. Fiscal year 2013. The Occupational health services comprised of both active services and passive services. The active services are; collecting baseline data of informal workers, workplace survey and risk assessment, health education and suggestion about work related diseases. The passive services are; health screening. Treatment of work related diseases, and reporting the occupational disease to the surveillance system. Data were collected using record form of details and resources used in providing each activity by the health officers. Cost comprised of labour cost, material cost and capital cost. Direct cost allocation method was applied in cost analysis.

Results The study revealed that total cost of providing occupational health service was 79 326 baths. Unit cost of active services was 37 161 baths (Range 19,804–136,862). Cost of key activities per capital such as workplace survey and risk assessment, health education suggestion and campaign, home visit and statement occupational health project were 2920, 15132, 598 and 5331 baths, respectively. While unit cost of providing passive service was 24 403 baths (Range 14,232–132,055). Cost of core activities per capital comprise of diseases screening, diagnosis and treatment, database development, record keeping and to the surveillance system were 1175, 1753, 4803 and 1432 baths respectively.

Conclusion The unit cost of providing active service was 37 121 baths and passive service was 42 165 baths. The results can be applied to budget allocation for occupational service at Sub-district hospital.