Cost-Effectiveness of Population Level and Individual Level Interventions to Combat Non-communicable Disease in Eastern Sub-Saharan Africa and South East Asia: A WHO-CHOICE Analysis

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Health Systems Governance and Financing, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland

2 Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland

3 Department of Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland

4 Department of Management of Non Communicable Diseases, Violence and Injury, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland

Abstract

Background 
To determine the health system costs and health-related benefits of interventions for the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including mental health disorders, for the purpose of identifying the most cost-effective intervention options in support of global normative guidance on the best-buy interventions for NCDs. In addition, tools are developed to allow country contextualisation of the analyses to support local priority setting exercises.
 
Methods 
This analysis follows the standard WHO-CHOICE (World Health Organization-Choosing Interventions that are Cost-Effective) approach to generalized cost-effectiveness analysis applied to two regions, Eastern sub-Saharan Africa and South-East Asia. The scope of the analysis is all NCD and mental health interventions included in WHO guidelines or guidance documents for which the health impact of the intervention is able to be identified and attributed. Costs are measured in 2010 international dollars, and benefits modelled beginning in 2010, both for a period of 100 years.
 
Results 
There are many interventions for NCD prevention and management that are highly cost-effective, generating one year of healthy life for less than Int. $100. These interventions include tobacco and alcohol control policies such as taxation, voluntary and legislative actions to reduce sodium intake, mass media campaigns for reducing physical activity, and treatment options for cardiovascular disease (CVD), cervical cancer and epilepsy. In addition a number of interventions fall just outside this range, including breast cancer, depression and chronic lung disease treatment.
 
Conclusion 
Interventions that represent good value for money, are technically feasible and are delivered for a low per-capita cost, are available to address the rapid rise in NCDs in low- and middle-income countries. This paper also describes a tool to support countries in developing NCD action plans.

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History

  • Receive Date: 30 January 2020
  • Revise Date: 01 February 2021
  • Accept Date: 07 April 2021
  • First Publish Date: 07 June 2021

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