Economic analysis for national immunization program planning: A case of rotavirus vaccines in Burundi

BackgroundIn Burundi, diarrhea is the third leading cause of mortality among children under five years of age. This study conducted an economic analysis of rotavirus vaccination program in Burundi.MethodsA Markov model was constructed to simulate clinical and economic outcomes for the 2019 birth cohort for a period of 5 years. Empirical costing data were collected. ICER per episode averted, ICER per death averted, ICER per DALY averted, net present value, and budget impact were estimated for 4 brands of WHO pre-qualified rotavirus vaccines. One-way and probabilistic sensitivity analysis as well as threshold analysis were performed.ResultsFor the base case, while all four WHO pre-qualified rotavirus vaccines were cost-effective (ICER < 3 GDP per capita), three of them (i.e. Rotarix, Rotavac and Rotasiil) were very cost-effective (ICER <1 GDP per capita) from both the provider and societal perspectives. The vaccines were still very cost-effective at a price increase of up to US$ 5.09, US$ 3.16, US$ 3.89, and US$ 2.69 for Rotarix, RotaTeq, Rotavac, and Rotasiil, respectively. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis indicated that vaccination programs with Rotarix, RotaTeq, Rotavac, and Rotasiil are cost-effective at a probability of 93.8%, 27%, 99.1%, and 92.7%, respectively. All vaccination programs were cost-beneficial with a net present value in the range of US$ 5,214,912 and US$ 11,135,997.The budget required to run the vaccination program, estimated with break-even prices, ranged between US$ 42,249,498 and US$ 53,487,935 for a 5-year time period. When compared to the GDP of Burundi in 2019, these are are less than 2%.ConclusionThe rotavirus vaccine is good value for money. Findings from this study offer evidence on potential economic benefits as well as the required budget for different rotavirus vaccination programs, which could be useful for future planning related to rotavirus vaccine coverage in Burundi after graduation from GAVI.     

Economic valuation of informal care in Asia: A case study of care for disabled stroke survivors in Thailand

This study values informal care for disabled stroke survivors in Thailand. It applies the conventional recommended opportunity cost method to value informal care in monetary terms. Data were collected by means of face-to-face interviews conducted during 2006. The sample consisted of 101 disabled persons who had suffered a stroke at least six months prior to the interview, and who had a functional status score of less than 95 as measured by the Barthel Index. Average monthly time spent on informal care was 94.6 hours, and the major source of opportunity cost was forgone unpaid work (43.5%). The average monthly monetary value of informal care was 4642.6 baht, based on 2006 prices. This study shows that providing informal care involves a substantial opportunity cost, implying a hidden value to Thai society.     

Treatment Cost for Typhoid Fever at Two Hospitals in Kolkata, India

The purpose of this study was to estimate treatment cost for typhoid fever at two hospitals in Kolkata, India. This study was an incidence-based cost-of-illness analysis from the providers’ perspective. Micro-costing approach was employed for calculating patient-specific data. Unit costs of medical services used in the calculation were directly measured from the study hospital by standard method. The study hospitals were selected based on accessibility to data and cooperation. Eighty-three Widal-positive and/or culture-confirmed patients with typhoid fever during November 2003–April 2006 were included in the study. Most (93%) patients were children. Eighty-one percent was treated at the outpatient department. The average duration of hospitalization for child and adult patients was 8.4 and 4.2 days respectively. The average cost of treating children, adults, and all patients was US$ 16.72, 72.71, and 20.77 respectively (in 2004 prices). Recalculation based on 80% occupancy rate in inpatient wards (following the recommendation of the World Health Organization) found that the cost of treating children, adults, and all patients was US$ 14.53, 36.44, and 16.11 respectively.Key words: Costs of illness, Healthcare cost, Treatment cost, Typhoid fever, India     

Support interventions for caregivers of physically disabled adults: A systematic review

In developing countries family caregivers are an important community‐based resource who provide care for physically disabled adults. Substantial caregiving commitment is known to adversely affect caregiver health and thereby their capacity to provide ongoing care. This systematic review focused on support interventions for caregivers using Thailand as an example. From 1964 to 2011 international and Thai electronic databases and relevant grey literature were searched. Six English papers and 34 Thai papers published between 1990 and 2010 were found. The Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) tool was modified to appraise methodological quality. All nurse‐led interventions mainly focused on improving caregiving capacity; nearly half considered caregiver health. Only 15 interventions were community‐based. Despite variable research quality all studies showed benefits for caregivers, care recipients, and healthcare services. In developing countries without healthy caregivers physically disabled adults would not receive care. There is an urgent need for further investment in community‐based research to develop effective interventions designed to promote caregiver health and help them maintain their role.     

Predicting Treatment Cost for Bacterial Diarrhoeaat a Regional Hospital in Thailand

The aim of this study was to estimate the treatment cost and formulate a cost-function for bacterial diarrhoea among patients in a Thai regional hospital. This study was an incidence-based cost-of-illness analysis from a hospital perspective, employing a micro-costing approach. It covered new episodes of both outpatients and inpatients who were diagnosed to have bacterial diarrhoea (ICD-10 code A00-A05) and who received treatment during 1 October 2000–31 July 2003. Retrospective data were collected from medical records of the hospital. The study covered 384 episodes, and the mean age of patients was 24 years. The average treatment costs (at 2002 prices; US$ 1=approximately 40 Thai baht) were US$ 11.29, 76.78, and 44.72 per outpatient episode, inpatient episode, and outpatient/inpatient combined episode respectively. Furthermore, the positive significant predictor variables were: inpatient care, other Salmonella-associated infections, shigellosis, other bacterial intestinal infections, and the health insurance scheme. The fitted model was able to predict greater than 80% of the treatment cost. The estimation of simulated patients demonstrated a wide range of costs, from US$ 10 per episode to US$ 163 per episode. Overall, hospital administrators can apply these results in cost-containment interventions.Key words: Bacteria, Cost-function analysis, Cost and cost analysis, Diarrhoea, Health expenditure, Healthcare cost, Retrospective studies, Thailand     

Cost analysis for efficient management: diabetes treatment at a public district hospital in Thailand

OBJECTIVE The study estimated cost of illness from the provider's perspective for diabetic patients who received treatment during the fiscal year 2008 at Waritchaphum Hospital, a 30-bed public district hospital in Sakhon Nakhon province in northeastern Thailand. METHODS This retrospective, prevalence-based cost-of-illness study looked at 475 randomly selected diabetic patients, identified by the World Health Organization's International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision, codes E10-E14. Data were collected from the hospital financial records and medical records of each participant and were analysed with a stepwise multiple regression. KEY FINDINGS The study found that the average public treatment cost per patient per year was US$94.71 at 2008 prices. Drug cost was the highest cost component (25% of total cost), followed by inpatient cost (24%) and outpatient visit cost (17%). A cost forecasting model showed that length of stay, hospitalization, visits to the provincial hospital, duration of disease and presence of diabetic complications (e.g. diabetic foot complications and nephropathy) were the significant predictor variables (adjusted R(2) = 0.689). CONCLUSIONS According to the fitted model, avoiding nephropathy and foot complications would save US$19 386 and US$39 134 respectively per year. However, these savings are missed savings for the study year and the study hospital only and not projected savings, as that would depend on the number of diabetic patients managed in the year, the ratio of complicated to non-complicated cases and effectiveness of the prevention programmes. Nonetheless, given the high avoidable cost associated with complications of diabetes, healthcare providers in Thailand should focus on initiatives that delay the progression of complications in diabetic patients.     

Effective implementation of the UNCRPD by Thailand State Party: challenges and potential remedies

Background

The Thai government ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) in 2008, and the first progress report by the State Party was issued in 2012. This study assesses and identifies gaps in the Government’s implementation of the Convention.

Methods

Using the Deming Plan-Do-Check-Act Cycle as an analytical framework for continuous quality improvement, we reviewed five documents which are: the 2012 State Party report; the list of issues by the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; the 2015 replies to the list of issues by the Thai government; an alternative report produced by Civil Society Organizations (CSOs); and an alternative report produced by the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand. Content analysis is applied to generate the emerging gaps in implementation.

Results

Thailand’s main advantage is the evolving legal frameworks operating in compliance with the convention, although further amendment is still needed, including effective law enforcement. Conflicting information between the Government’s and alternative reports reflects the shortcomings in the information system that intends to support rigorous monitoring and evaluation. Lacking of concrete measures and outcome indicators on certain articles reflects the State Party’s limited understanding of the concept of human rights and participatory approaches and insufficient institutional capacities for effective implementation.

Conclusions

To rectify these implementation gaps, a few actions are suggested. This includes amending the laws which violate the rights of persons with psychosocial disability; reforming governance where the monitoring bodies are truly independent from implementing agencies; strengthening cross-sectoral actions; and improving information systems which facilitate monitoring and evaluation where Disabled People’s Organizations and Civil Society Organizations are recognized as true equal partners. Implementation research can provide evidence for further effective implementation.

     

Economic burden of rotavirus diarrhea in Thailand: Report from a pilot study on rotavirus vaccination

Background

Rotavirus diarrhea is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in young children in both developed and developing countries. Hospitalization costs are a significant burden of both governments and households. The objective of this study was to estimate the economic burden associated with the hospitalization of children with non-rotavirus and rotavirus diarrhea in two provinces in Thailand.