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Adams NNK, Ahorlu CS, de Souza DK, Aikins M. Modelling the cost of engage & treat and test & treat strategies towards the elimination of lymphatic filariasis in Ghana. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2024; 18:e0012213. [PMID: 38787898 PMCID: PMC11156436 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0012213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2023] [Revised: 06/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite several years of LF-MDA implementation, Ghana still has some districts with mf prevalence >1%, partly due to poor treatment coverage levels resulting from non-participation in MDA. To address the challenges, we implemented Engage & Treat (E&T) and Test & Treat (T&T) strategies for individuals who miss or refuse MDA respectively, in a hotspot district, enabling us to reach many of those who seldom, or never, take part in MDA. This financial cost study was undertaken to analyse data on the LF-MDA, E&T and T&T implementation in 2021 and the financial cost to inform the rollout of the E&T and T&T as mop-up strategies in future LF-MDAs. METHODS This costing study analysed cost data from the 2021 LF-MDA implementation activities carried out by the Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) programme of the Ghana Health Service and the SENTINEL study, carried out in Ahanta West district for the two interventions (i.e., E&T and T&T). The 2021 Ghana Population and Housing Census data was used to estimate the LF-MDA-eligible population. The financial cost per person treated was estimated and these costs were applied to the projected population to obtain the financial cost for subsequent years. RESULTS Implementing MDA mop-up strategies either through the E&T or T&T to improve coverage comes at an additional cost to the elimination goals. For example, in 2024 the projected cost per person treated by the routine LF-MDA is estimated at US$0.83. The cost using the integrated LF-MDA and the E&T, T&T led by the NTD programme or T&T integrated into the health system was estimated at US$1.62, US$2.88, and US$2.33, respectively, for the same year. Despite the increased cost, the proposed combined LF-MDA and mop-up strategies will have a higher estimated population treated for 2024 (i.e., 1,392,211) compared to the routine LF-MDA approach (i.e., 988,470) for the same year. CONCLUSION Combining LF-MDA with E&T/T&T mop-up strategies, despite their high costs, may provide NTD Programmes with the options of improving treatment coverage and reaching the LF elimination target sooner, given that the routine LF-MDA alone approach has been implemented for many years with some districts yet to reach the elimination targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathaniel N. K. Adams
- School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon–Accra, Ghana
| | - Collins S. Ahorlu
- Department of Epidemiology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon–Accra, Ghana
| | - Dziedzom K. de Souza
- Department of Parasitology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon–Accra, Ghana
| | - Moses Aikins
- School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon–Accra, Ghana
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Shaw C, McLure A, Graves PM, Lau CL, Glass K. Lymphatic filariasis endgame strategies: Using GEOFIL to model mass drug administration and targeted surveillance and treatment strategies in American Samoa. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023; 17:e0011347. [PMID: 37200375 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/29/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023] Open
Abstract
American Samoa underwent seven rounds of mass drug administration (MDA) for lymphatic filariasis (LF) from 2000-2006, but subsequent surveys found evidence of ongoing transmission. American Samoa has since undergone further rounds of MDA in 2018, 2019, and 2021; however, recent surveys indicate that transmission is still ongoing. GEOFIL, a spatially-explicit agent-based LF model, was used to compare the effectiveness of territory-wide triple-drug MDA (3D-MDA) with targeted surveillance and treatment strategies. Both approaches relied on treatment with ivermectin, diethylcarbamazine, and albendazole. We simulated three levels of whole population coverage for 3D-MDA: 65%, 73%, and 85%, while the targeted strategies relied on surveillance in schools, workplaces, and households, followed by targeted treatment. In the household-based strategies, we simulated 1-5 teams travelling village-to-village and offering antigen (Ag) testing to randomly selected households in each village. If an Ag-positive person was identified, treatment was offered to members of all households within 100m-1km of the positive case. All simulated interventions were finished by 2027 and their effectiveness was judged by their 'control probability'-the proportion of simulations in which microfilariae prevalence decreased between 2030 and 2035. Without future intervention, we predict Ag prevalence will rebound. With 3D-MDA, a 90% control probability required an estimated ≥ 4 further rounds with 65% coverage, ≥ 3 rounds with 73% coverage, or ≥ 2 rounds with 85% coverage. While household-based strategies were substantially more testing-intensive than 3D-MDA, they could offer comparable control probabilities with substantially fewer treatments; e.g. three teams aiming to test 50% of households and offering treatment to a 500m radius had approximately the same control probability as three rounds of 73% 3D-MDA, but used < 40% the number of treatments. School- and workplace-based interventions proved ineffective. Regardless of strategy, reducing Ag prevalence below the 1% target threshold recommended by the World Health Organization was a poor indicator of the interruption of LF transmission, highlighting the need to review blanket elimination targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Callum Shaw
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Angus McLure
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Patricia M Graves
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland, Australia
| | - Colleen L Lau
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Kathryn Glass
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
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Brew J, Pradhan M, Broerse J, Bassat Q. Researchers' perceptions of malaria eradication: findings from a mixed-methods analysis of a large online survey. Malar J 2020; 19:359. [PMID: 33032614 PMCID: PMC7545840 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-020-03430-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Accepted: 10/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The value of malaria eradication, the permanent reduction to zero of the worldwide incidence of malaria infection caused by human malaria parasites, would be enormous. However, the expected value of an investment in an intended, but uncertain, outcome hinges on the probability of, and time until, its fulfilment. Though the long-term benefits of global malaria eradication promise to be large, the upfront costs and uncertainty regarding feasibility and timeframe make it difficult for policymakers and researchers to forecast the return on investment. METHODS A large online survey of 844 peer-reviewed malaria researchers of different scientific backgrounds administered in order to estimate the probability and time frame of eradication. Adjustments were made for potential selection bias, and thematic analysis of free text comments was carried out. RESULTS The average perceived likelihood of global eradication among malaria researchers approximates the number of years into the future: approximately 10% of researchers believe that eradication will occur in the next 10 years, 30% believe it will occur in the next 30 years, and half believe eradication will require 50 years or more. Researchers who gave free form comments highlighted systemic challenges and the need for innovation as chief among obstacles to achieving global malaria eradication. CONCLUSIONS The findings highlight the difficulty and complexity of malaria eradication, and can be used in prospective cost-benefit analyses to inform stakeholders regarding the likely return on eradication-specific investments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joe Brew
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Hospital Clinic, c/Rosselló, 132, 5è 2a, 08036, Barcelona, Spain. .,Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1105, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
| | - Menno Pradhan
- Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1105, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, Netherlands.,University of Amsterdam, REC E, Roetersstraat 11, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Jacqueline Broerse
- Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1105, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Quique Bassat
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Hospital Clinic, c/Rosselló, 132, 5è 2a, 08036, Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça (CISM), Maputo, Mozambique.,Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats, Pg. Lluís Companys 23, 08010, Barcelona, Spain.,Pediatric Infectious Diseases Unit, Pediatrics Department, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu (University of Barcelona), Barcelona, Spain.,Consorcio de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública, Madrid, Spain
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Salari P, Fürst T, Knopp S, Rollinson D, Kabole F, Khamis MI, Omar MA, Bacon O, Ali SM, Utzinger J, Tediosi F. Financial Costs of the Zanzibar Elimination of Schistosomiasis Transmission Project. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2020; 103:2260-2267. [PMID: 32996446 PMCID: PMC7695112 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.20-0252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
We estimated the financial costs of different interventions against urogenital schistosomiasis, implemented by the Zanzibar Elimination of Schistosomiasis Transmission (ZEST) project, on Pemba and Unguja islands, Tanzania. We used available data on project activities, resources used, and costs reported in the accounting information systems of ZEST partners. The costs were estimated for all the activities related to snail control, behavior change interventions, the impact assessment surveys, and management of the whole program. Costs are presented in US$ for the full duration of the ZEST project from 2011/2012 to 2017. The total financial costs of implementing snail control activities over 5 years, excluding the costs for donated Bayluscide, were US$55,796 on Pemba and US$73,581 on Unguja, mainly driven by personnel costs. The total financial costs of implementing behavior change activities were US$109,165 on Pemba and US$155,828 on Unguja, with costs for personnel accounting for 47% on Pemba and 69% on Unguja. Costs of implementing biannual mass drug administration refer to the estimated 2.4 million treatments provided on Pemba over 4 years (2013–2016), and do not include the costs of donated praziquantel. The total cost per provided treatment was, on average, US$0.21. This study showed the value of exploiting administrative data to estimate costs of major global health interventions. It also provides an evidence base for financial costs and main cost drivers of implementing multiple combinations of intervention sets that inform decisions regarding the feasibility and affordability of implementing schistosomiasis control and elimination strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Salari
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.,Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Thomas Fürst
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.,Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Stefanie Knopp
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.,Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Fatma Kabole
- Neglected Diseases Program, Zanzibar Ministry of Health, Zanzibar, Tanzania
| | - Mohammed I Khamis
- Neglected Diseases Program, Zanzibar Ministry of Health, Zanzibar, Tanzania
| | - Mussa A Omar
- Public Health Laboratory-Ivo de Carneri, Chake Chake, Tanzania
| | | | - Said M Ali
- Public Health Laboratory-Ivo de Carneri, Chake Chake, Tanzania
| | - Jürg Utzinger
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.,Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Fabrizio Tediosi
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.,University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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Cirera L, Galatas B, Alonso S, Paaijmans K, Mamuquele M, Martí-Soler H, Guinovart C, Munguambe H, Luis F, Nhantumbo H, Montañà J, Bassat Q, Candrinho B, Rabinovich R, Macete E, Aide P, Alonso P, Saúte F, Sicuri E. Moving towards malaria elimination in southern Mozambique: Cost and cost-effectiveness of mass drug administration combined with intensified malaria control. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0235631. [PMID: 32628741 PMCID: PMC7337313 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0235631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2020] [Accepted: 06/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND As new combinations of interventions aiming at interrupting malaria transmission are under evaluation, understanding the associated economic costs and benefits is critical for decision-making. This study assessed the economic cost and cost-effectiveness of the Magude project, a malaria elimination initiative implemented in a district in southern Mozambique (i.e. Magude) between August 2015-June 2018. This project piloted a combination of two mass drug administration (MDA) rounds per year for two consecutive years, annual rounds of universal indoor residual spraying (IRS) and a strengthened surveillance and response system on the back of universal long-lasting insecticide treated net (LLIN) coverage and routine case management implemented by the National Malaria Control Program (NMCP). Although local transmission was not interrupted, the project achieved large reductions in the burden of malaria in the target district. METHODS We collected weekly economic data, estimated costs from the project implementer perspective and assessed the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) associated with the Magude project as compared to routine malaria control activities, the counterfactual. We estimated disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) for malaria cases and deaths and assessed the variation of the ICER over time to capture the marginal costs and effectiveness associated with subsequent phases of project implementation. We used deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses to account for uncertainty and built an alternative scenario by assuming the implementation of the interventions from a governmental perspective. Economic costs are provided in constant US$2015. RESULTS After three years, the Magude project averted a total of 3,171 DALYs at an incremental cost of $2.89 million and an average yearly cost of $20.7 per targeted person. At an average cost of $19.4 per person treated per MDA round, the social mobilization and distribution of door-to-door MDA contributed to 53% of overall resources employed, with personnel and logistics being the main cost drivers. The ICER improved over time as a result of decreasing costs and improved effectiveness. The overall ICER was $987 (CI95% 968-1,006) per DALY averted, which is below the standard cost-effectiveness (CE) threshold of $1,404/DALY averted, three times the gross domestic product (GDP) per capita of Mozambique, but above the threshold of interventions considered highly cost-effective (one time the GDP per capita or $468/DALY averted) and above the recently suggested thresholds based on the health opportunity cost ($537 purchasing power parity/ DALY averted). A significantly lower ICER was obtained in the implementation scenario from a governmental perspective ($441/DALY averted). CONCLUSION Despite the initial high costs and volume of resources associated with its implementation, MDA in combination with other existing malaria control interventions, can be a cost-effective strategy to drastically reduce transmission in areas of low to moderate transmission in sub-Saharan Africa. However, further studies are needed to understand the capacity of the health system and financial affordability to scale up such strategies at regional or national level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laia Cirera
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic -Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Beatriz Galatas
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic -Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde da Manhiça (CISM), Manhiça, Mozambique
| | - Sergi Alonso
- Centre for Primary Care and Public Health, Barts and The London School of Medicine & Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Krijn Paaijmans
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic -Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde da Manhiça (CISM), Manhiça, Mozambique
- Center for Evolution and Medicine & The Biodesign Center for Immunotherapy, Vaccines and Virotherapy, School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Miler Mamuquele
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde da Manhiça (CISM), Manhiça, Mozambique
| | | | | | | | - Fabião Luis
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde da Manhiça (CISM), Manhiça, Mozambique
| | - Hoticha Nhantumbo
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde da Manhiça (CISM), Manhiça, Mozambique
| | - Júlia Montañà
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic -Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde da Manhiça (CISM), Manhiça, Mozambique
| | - Quique Bassat
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic -Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde da Manhiça (CISM), Manhiça, Mozambique
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases Unit, Pediatrics Department, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu (University of Barcelona), Barcelona, Spain
- ICREA, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Baltazar Candrinho
- National Malaria Control Program, Ministry of Health, Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Regina Rabinovich
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic -Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Eusebio Macete
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde da Manhiça (CISM), Manhiça, Mozambique
- National Institute of Health, Ministry of Health, Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Pedro Aide
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde da Manhiça (CISM), Manhiça, Mozambique
- National Institute of Health, Ministry of Health, Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Pedro Alonso
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic -Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde da Manhiça (CISM), Manhiça, Mozambique
| | - Francisco Saúte
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde da Manhiça (CISM), Manhiça, Mozambique
| | - Elisa Sicuri
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic -Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Health Economics Group, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
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Cost and logistics implications of a nationwide survey of schistosomiasis and other intestinal helminthiases in Sudan: Key activities and cost components. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0226586. [PMID: 32421720 PMCID: PMC7233535 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0226586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2019] [Accepted: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
It is vital to share details of concrete experiences of conducting a nationwide disease survey. By doing so, the global health community could adapt previous experiences to expand geographic mapping programs, eventually contributing to the development of disease control and elimination strategies. A nationwide survey of schistosomiasis and intestinal helminthiases was conducted from December 2016 to March 2017 in Sudan. We aimed to describe details of the key activities and cost components required for the nationwide survey. We investigated which activities were necessary to prepare and conduct a nationwide survey of schistosomiasis and intestinal helminthiases, and the types and amounts of transportation, personnel, survey equipment, and consumables that were required. In addition, we estimated financial and economic costs from the perspectives of the donor and the Ministry of Health. Cash expenditures incurred to implement the survey were defined as financial costs. For economic costs, we considered the true value for society as a whole, and this category therefore accounted for the costs of all goods and services used for the project, including those that were not sold in the market and therefore had no market price (e.g., time spent by head teachers and teachers). We organized costs into capital and recurrent items. We ran one-way sensitivity and probabilistic analyses using Monte-Carlo methods with 10,000 draws to examine the robustness of the primary analysis results. A total of USD 1,465,902 and USD 1,516,238 was incurred for the financial and economic costs, respectively. The key cost drivers of the nationwide survey were personnel and transportation, for both financial and economic costs. Personnel and transportation accounted for around 64% and 18% of financial costs, respectively. If a government finds a way to mobilize existing government officials with no additional payments using the health system already in place, the cost of a nationwide survey could be remarkably reduced.
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Turner HC, Toor J, Hollingsworth TD, Anderson RM. Economic Evaluations of Mass Drug Administration: The Importance of Economies of Scale and Scope. Clin Infect Dis 2019; 66:1298-1303. [PMID: 29126255 PMCID: PMC5888956 DOI: 10.1093/cid/cix1001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2017] [Accepted: 11/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
It is recognized that changing the current approaches for the control of the neglected tropical diseases will be needed to reach the World Health Organization’s (WHO) 2020 goals. Consequently, it is important that economic evaluations of the alternative approaches are conducted. A vital component of such evaluations is the issue of how the intervention’s costs should be incorporated. We discuss this issue—focusing on mass drug administration. We argue that the common approach of assuming an intervention’s cost per treatment is constant, regardless of the number of individuals treated, is a misleading way to consider the delivery costs of mass drug administration due to the occurrence of economies/diseconomies of scale and scope. Greater care and consideration are required when the costs are incorporated into such analyses. Without this, these economic evaluations could potentially lead to incorrect policy recommendations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hugo C Turner
- Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Wellcome Trust Major Overseas Programme, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford United Kingdom
- Correspondence: H. Turner, Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Wellcome Trust Major Overseas Programme, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam ()
| | - Jaspreet Toor
- London Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease Research, University of Oxford, United Kingdom
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, St Mary’s Campus, Imperial College London, Norfolk Place, University of Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - T Déirdre Hollingsworth
- Mathematics Institute, University of Oxford, United Kingdom
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, University of Oxford, United Kingdom
- Big Data Institute, University of Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Roy M Anderson
- London Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease Research, University of Oxford, United Kingdom
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, St Mary’s Campus, Imperial College London, Norfolk Place, University of Oxford, United Kingdom
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Sutherland CS, Tediosi F. Is the elimination of 'sleeping sickness' affordable? Who will pay the price? Assessing the financial burden for the elimination of human African trypanosomiasis Trypanosoma brucei gambiense in sub-Saharan Africa. BMJ Glob Health 2019; 4:e001173. [PMID: 31139437 PMCID: PMC6509604 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2018-001173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2018] [Revised: 03/07/2019] [Accepted: 03/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Programme to eliminate neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) have gained global recognition, and may allow for improvements to universal health coverage and poverty alleviation. It is hoped that elimination of human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) Trypanosoma brucei gambiense (Tbg) would assist in this goal, but the financial costs are still unknown. The objective of this analysis was to forecast the financial burden of direct costs of HAT Tbg to funders and society. Methods In order to estimate the total costs to health services and individuals: (1) potential elimination programmes were defined; (2) the direct costs of programmes were calculated; (3) the per case out-of-pocket payments (OOPs) by programme and financial risk protection indicators were estimated. The total estimated costs for control and elimination programme were reported up till 2020 in international dollars. The mean results for both direct programme costs and OOPs were calculated and reported along with 95% CIs. Results Across sub-Saharan Africa, HAT Tbg maintaining ‘Control’ would lead to a decline in cases and cost US$630.6 million. In comparison, the cost of ‘Elimination’ programme ranged from US$410.9 million to US$1.2 billion. Maintaining ‘Control’ would continue to cause impoverishment and financial hardship to households; while all ‘Elimination’ programme would lead to significant reductions in poverty. Conclusion Overall, the total costs of either control or elimination programme would be near US$1 billion in the next decade. However, only elimination programme will reduce the number of cases and improve financial risk protection for households who are impacted by HAT Tbg.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Simone Sutherland
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Medicine, Universitat Basel Medizinische Fakultat, Basel, Switzerland.,Department of Epidemiology and Public Health (EPH), Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Fabrizio Tediosi
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health (EPH), Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.,Department of Public Health, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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