Economic Evaluation of COVID-19 Screening Tests and Surveillance Strategies in Low-Income, Middle-Income, and High-Income Countries: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND Economic evaluation of the testing strategies to control transmission and monitor the severity of COVID-19 after the pandemic is essential. This study aimed to review the economic evaluation of COVID-19 tests and to construct a model with outcomes in terms of cost and test acceptability for surveillance in the post-pandemic period in low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries. MATERIAL AND METHODS We performed the systematic review following PRISMA guidelines through MEDLINE and EMBASE databases. We included the relevant studies that reported the economic evaluation of COVID-19 tests for surveillance. Also, we input current probability, sensitivity, and specificity for COVID-19 surveillance in the post-pandemic period. RESULTS A total of 104 articles met the eligibility criteria, and 8 articles were reviewed and assessed for quality. The specificity and sensitivity of COVID-19 screening tests were reported as 80% to 90% and 40% to 90%, respectively. The target population presented a mortality rate between 0.2% and 19.2% in the post-pandemic period. The implementation model of COVID-19 screening tests for surveillance with a cost mean for molecular and antigen tests was US$ 46.64 (min-max US $0.25-$105.39) and US $6.15 (min-max US $2-$10), respectively. CONCLUSIONS For the allocation budget for the COVID-19 surveillance test, it is essential to consider the incidence and mortality of the post-pandemic period in low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries. A robust method to evaluate outcomes is needed to prevent increasing COVID-19 incidents earlier.

National Immunization Program Decision Making Using the CAPACITI Decision-Support Tool: User Feedback from Indonesia and Ethiopia.

To ensure that limited domestic resources are invested in the most effective interventions, immunization programs in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) must prioritize a growing number of new vaccines while considering opportunities to optimize the vaccine portfolio, as well as other components of the health system. There is a strong impetus for immunization decision-making to engage and coordinate various stakeholders across the health system in prioritization. To address this, national immunization program decision-makers in LMICs collaborated with WHO to structure deliberation among stakeholders and document an evidence-based, context-specific, and transparent process for prioritization or selection among multiple vaccination products, services, or strategies. The output of this effort is the Country-led Assessment for Prioritization on Immunization (CAPACITI) decision-support tool, which supports using multiple criteria and stakeholder perspectives to evaluate trade-offs affecting health interventions, taking into account variable data quality. Here, we describe the user feedback from Indonesia and Ethiopia, two initial countries that piloted the CAPACITI decision-support tool, highlighting enabling and constraining factors. Potential immunization program benefits and lessons learned are also summarized for consideration in other settings.

Projection of diabetes morbidity and mortality till 2045 in Indonesia based on risk factors and NCD prevention and control programs.

Diabetes Mellitus is one of the biggest health problems in Indonesia but the research on the disease's projection is still limited. This study aimed to make a projection model of prevalence and mortality of diabetes in Indonesia based on risk factors and NCD programs. The study was a quantitative non-experimental study through multiple linear regression models and system dynamics. The baseline projection was created by 2018 data and projections until 2045 involved the dynamization of risk factors and programs, population, and case fatality rate. The model was created from 205 districts data. This study used secondary data from Basic Health Research, BPJS Kesehatan, NCD programs, and Ministry of Health. The prevalence of diabetes in Indonesia is estimated to increase from 9.19% in 2020 (18.69 million cases) to 16.09% in 2045 (40.7 million cases). The prevalence will be lower to 15.68% (39.6 million) if interventions of programs were carried out, and to 9.22% (23.2 million) if the programs were added with prevention of risk factors. The projected number of deaths due to diabetes increases from 433,752 in 2020 to 944,468 in 2045. Deaths due to stroke among diabetes increases from 52,397 to 114,092 in the same period. Deaths from IHD among diabetes increase from 35,351 to 76,974, and deaths from chronic kidney disease among diabetes increase from 29,061 to 63,279. Diabetes prevalence and mortality in Indonesia rise significantly in Indonesia and can be reduced by intervention of several programs and risk factors. This study findings could be source of planning and evaluation of Diabetes prevention and control program at national and provincial level in the future related to risk factors control and program development.

Evaluation of the Tinnitus Teleconsulting System's Back-Referral Program for National Health Insurance Patients with Diabetes Mellitus in Primary Care.

BACKGROUND: One of the techniques available through Social Security healthcare organizations to assist the government in the implementation of social distancing without restricting patients access to particular health treatments is primary healthcare Tinnitus Teleconsulting. The purpose of this research is to gather data on how well the City of South Jakarta's primary medical care Audiology Teleconsulting strategy was implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHOD: This study uses a qualitative research method and was conducted during November 2022-Mei 2023 at the City of South Jakarta Primary Health Care, the social security agency of health's South Jakarta Branch, and the social security agency of health's Primary Health Care Guarantee Division at the Head Office. Data collection techniques were through Focus Group Discussions, in-depth interviews with key informants, and document review. RESULTS: The results showed that most of the informants already knew the process and output of FKTP Tinnitus Teleconsulting performance; only a few FKTPs did not understand the process and output of policy performance, so even though they acknowledged that they had implemented it, there were no documents recorded in the logbook or electronically recorded patient medical data through the social security agency's health care application. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study can be used by FKTP and other district or city social security agencies of health to improve the performance achievement of FKTP Tinnitus Teleconsulting implementation.

Maternal, newborn, and children under-five health surveillance system: a scoping review protocol.

BACKGROUND: Public health surveillance is crucial in monitoring the progress of maternal, newborn, and children under-five health outcomes (MNCH). Consequently, mapping the existing surveillance system from countries with different income and development levels is needed to learn and compare the effectiveness of surveillance. However, the current COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the health system, including the healthcare services for pregnant women, neonates, infants, and children under five, as well as the recording, reporting, and surveillance system. The need to adapt to the new normal during the pandemic has stimulated innovation while incorporating new COVID-19-related indicators into the existing public health system. Therefore, this review aims to describe the existing implementation and the COVID-19 pandemic's influence on the MNCH surveillance system. METHODS: We will search published literature (from MEDLINE, Embase, and Portal Garuda), manually search from all reference lists of included studies, and conduct a targeted search of relevant gray literature. This review will include studies of surveillance systems or describe COVID-19 surveillance or routine reports involving MNCH (morbidity and mortality). The studies included will be in English or Indonesian language, observational study designs, and published or documented from 2010 to 2023. Two investigators will independently screen the title and abstract, including each full article to determine the eligibility of studies. The data will be assessed using a narrative approach. Data will be reported in simple descriptive tables. DISCUSSION: Our findings are expected to map the existing implementation of MNCH surveillance systems before and during the pandemic, including the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on MNCH surveillance across countries with different income levels. This may contribute to existing knowledge on the MNCH health surveillance system that could be integrated into the surveillance of emerging diseases, such as COVID-19. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: The protocol has been registered on the Open Science Framework ( https://osf.io/bc6t4 ).

Cetuximab as first-line treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC): a model-based economic evaluation in Indonesia setting.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the cost-effectiveness of cetuximab in combination with chemotherapy fluorouracil, oxaliplatin, and leucovorin (FOLFOX) or fluorouracil, irinotecan and leucovorin (FOLFIRI) compared to standard chemotherapy alone as a first-line treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) with positive KRAS wild type patients in Indonesia. METHODS: A cost-utility analysis applying Markov model was constructed, with a societal perspective. Clinical evidence was derived from published clinical trials. Direct medical costs were gathered from hospital billings. Meanwhile, direct non-medical costs, indirect costs, and utility data were collected by directly interviewing patients. We applied 3% discount rate for both costs and outcomes. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis was performed to explore the model's uncertainty. Additionally, using payer perspective, budget impact analysis was estimated to project the financial impact of treatment coverage. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in life years gained (LYG) between cetuximab plus FOLFOX/FOLFIRI and chemotherapy alone. The incremental QALY was only one month, and the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was approximately IDR 3 billion/QALY for cetuximab plus chemotherapy. Using 1-3 GDP per capita (IDR 215 million or USD 14,350) as the current threshold, the cetuximab plus chemotherapy was not cost-effective. The budget impact analysis resulted that if cetuximab plus chemotherapy remain included in the benefits package under the Indonesian national health insurance (NHI) system, the payer would need more than IDR 1 trillion for five years. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of cetuximab and chemotherapy for mCRC is unlikely cost-effective and has a substantial financial impact on the system.

Developing a New Region-Specific Preference-Based Measure in East and Southeast Asia.

OBJECTIVES: Almost all preference-based measures (PBMs) have been developed in Western countries, with none having been formulated in Asian countries. In this study, we construct a new generic PBM based on concept elicitation using interview surveys in East and Southeast Asian countries and qualitative analysis. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 225 adults recruited from 9 East and Southeast Asian countries or regions (Indonesia, Japan, Korea, mainland China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand). Trained interviewers conducted semistructured interviews with 25 participants from the general population of each country/region. Qualitative data were analyzed using a content analysis approach. The selection of items was determined based on interview surveys and team member discussions. The description of items was considered based on a detailed qualitative analysis of the interview survey. RESULTS: A new region-specific PBM-the Asia PBM 7 dimensions instrument-was designed. It reflects East and Southeast Asian values and comprises 7 items: pain, mental health, energy, mobility, work/school, interpersonal interactions, and burden to others. CONCLUSIONS: The new region-specific instrument is one of the first PBMs developed in the context of non-Western countries. The Asia PBM 7 dimensions contains 7 items that address the core concepts of health-related quality of life that are deemed important based on East and Southeast Asian health concepts.

Estimating the Health Effects of Expansions in Health Expenditure in Indonesia: A Dynamic Panel Data Approach.

BACKGROUND: The marginal productivity of a country's healthcare system refers to the health gains produced per unit change in the level of spending. In budget-constrained settings, this metric reflects the opportunity cost, in terms of health gains forgone, of committing additional or existing resources to alternative uses within the healthcare system. It can therefore assist in evidence-based decisions on whether different interventions represent good value for money. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this paper was to estimate the marginal productivity of the Indonesian healthcare system using subnational data, and to use this to inform health opportunity costs in the country. METHODS: We define a dynamic health production function to model the stream of effects of current and prior public health spending decisions on population under-five mortality. To estimate the model, we use data from the 33 Indonesian provinces for the 2004-2012 period. The estimated elasticity is then translated into gains in terms of cost per DALY (disability-adjusted life-year) averted. We use dynamic panel data methods to address potential endogeneity issues in the model. RESULTS: Our base-case estimates suggest that a 1% expansion in the level of health spending reduces under-five mortality by 0.38% (95% CI 0.00-0.76), which translates into a cost of averting one DALY of $235 (2019 US$). CONCLUSION: With Indonesia aiming for universal health coverage, our results support these efforts by highlighting the associated benefits resulting from increases in public health expenditure and have the potential to inform the decision-making process about a suitable locally relevant cost-effectiveness threshold.

Does Trastuzumab Offer Good Value for Money for Breast Cancer Patients with Metastasis in Indonesia?

OBJECTIVE: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in Indonesia, with Indonesia's breast cancer mortality rate being the highest among Southeast Asian countries. This study aims to evaluate the cost-effectiveness and budget impacts of adding trastuzumab to chemotherapy versus chemotherapy alone for HER2-positive breast cancer patients in Indonesia. METHODS: We performed a Markov model-based economic evaluation to assess cost-effectiveness, cost-utility, and budget impact. Utility data, direct medical costs, and indirect costs were obtained primarily from interviewing patients. Clinical effectiveness data, on the other hand, were obtained from systematic reviews and real-world data and represented through progression free survival, overall survival, and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). RESULT: From a healthcare provider's perspective, the total costs for the combined group were USD 14,516, while chemotherapy alone cost USD 7,489. While the cost-effectiveness analysis showed that the combination group had a higher total cost by USD 7,027, PFS was longer in the chemotherapy alone group, with a difference of 2.2 months. The ICER was USD 17,307 for every QALY gained. The total cost of adding trastuzumab over a 5-year period was USD 589 million. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, this economic evaluation suggests that the addition of trastuzumab to standard chemotherapy is not cost-effective in terms of PFS and OS compared with chemotherapy alone.
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Adding rituximab to chemotherapy for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma patients in Indonesia: a cost utility and budget impact analysis.

BACKGROUND: Rituximab plus cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP) has been used to treat patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) under National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme in Indonesia. This study aims to estimate its cost-effectiveness and budget impact. METHODS: We conducted a cost utility analysis using Markov model over a lifetime horizon, from a societal perspective. Clinical evidence was derived from published clinical trials. Direct medical costs were gathered from hospital data. Direct non-medical costs, indirect costs, and utility data were primarily gathered by interviewing the patients. We applied 3% discount rate for both costs and effect. All monetary data are converted into USD (1 USD = IDR 14,000, 2019). Probabilistic sensitivity analysis was performed. In addition, from a payer perspective, budget impact analysis was estimated using price reduction scenarios. RESULTS: The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of R-CHOP was USD 4674/LYG and 9280/QALY. If we refer to the threshold three times the GDP per capita (USD 11,538), R-CHOP could thus be determined as a cost-effective therapy. Its significant health benefit has contributed to the considerable ICER result. Although the R-CHOP has been considered a cost-effective intervention, the financial consequence of R-CHOP if remain in benefit package under National Health Insurance (NHI) system in Indonesia is considerably substantial, approximately USD 35.00 million with 75% price reduction scenario. CONCLUSIONS: As a favorable treatment for DLBCL, R-CHOP ensures value for money in Indonesia. Budget impact analysis provides results which can be used as further consideration for decision-makers in matters related to benefit packages.

Cost and affordability of scaling up tuberculosis diagnosis using Xpert MTB/RIF testing in West Java, Indonesia.

In Indonesia, a significant number of tuberculosis (TB) cases may be missed, due to the low sensitivity and specificity of the currently used diagnostic algorithm. In this regard, the rapid molecular test using Xpert MTB/RIF, which has recently been introduced in Indonesia, can improve case detection. Thus, this study determined the cost and affordability of incorporating Xpert MTB/RIF testing for TB diagnosis. For this purpose, we estimated the costs (from the health system and societal perspectives) of reaching the TB detection target in Depok municipality, and applied the findings to the West Java province of Indonesia. The resources available for the health and TB program were also analyzed to support the decision to scale up the TB diagnosis using Xpert MTB/RIF testing. According to the results, the unit cost for TB diagnosis per person was USD 27.22 and USD 70.16 from the health system and societal perspectives, respectively. To reach the target of 109,843 TB cases for the 2020-2024 time period, Depok municipality would need USD 2,989,927 and USD 2,549,455 from the health system viewpoint, assuming the machine's lifespan of five and 10 years, respectively. Extrapolating these results to the West Java province, USD 56,353,833 would be necessary to test 2,076,413 cases from 2019 to 2024. However, in order to accelerate the case detection target up to 2024, West Java requires additional funds. The implication of the findings is that the central government must consider local capacity to accelerate TB case detection and ensure that the installation of Xpert MTB/RIF machines is included in the overall costs.

A randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effect of influenza vaccination and probiotic supplementation on immune response and incidence of influenza-like illness in an elderly population in Indonesia.

AIM: To investigate the effect of influenza vaccination with or without probiotic supplementation on the immune response and incidence of influenza-like illness (ILI) in the elderly. METHODS: A randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with a modified factorial design was conducted in 554 healthy elderly subjects aged 67 ± 5.6 (ranging from 60-90) years old in the Primary Health Care Center (Puskesmas area) of the Pulo Gadung District East Jakarta. Subjects received either a trivalent influenza vaccine or placebo at the start of the study, and a probiotic supplement (Lactobacillus helveticus R0052 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus R0011) or a placebo for 6 months. Subjects were randomly assigned into four intervention groups: influenza vaccine and probiotics (n = 141), influenza vaccine and placebo (n = 136), placebo and probiotics (n = 140), and both placebo (n = 137). The primary outcome was ILI incidence within 6 months. The secondary outcomes were seroprotection and seroconversion rates at 1, 4, and 6 months after administering the interventions. RESULTS: This study showed that the trivalent influenza vaccine increased seroprotection (RR 3.6 [95%CI 2.92-4.47]; p<0.010) and seroconversion (RR 29.8 [95%CI 11.1-79.5]; p<0.010) rates 1 month after vaccination in elderly people while the probiotic supplement did not alter influenza antibody titers (p = 1.000 and p = 0.210). The relative ILI incidence risk was similar between vaccinated and non-vaccinated groups, as well as in the probiotic group compared to the non-probiotic group. CONCLUSION: The tested trivalent influenza vaccine significantly induced seroprotection and seroconversion in the vaccinated subjects, while probiotics administration did not influence these parameters. Vaccinated individuals displayed a similarly low ILI incidence as those in the Control Group. However, the observed trend towards a reduction of ILI incidence with probiotics supplementation warrants further assessments in a larger, at-risk population. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRY NUMBER: NCT03695432.

The response of local governments in financing related to the COVID-19 pandemic: A literature review.

Not only the Central Government, local governments also have a role to shape, adapt and provide a holistic response to the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the most important actions taken by local governments during the COVID-19 pandemic is to make immediate, timely, and targeted decisions for the right institutions in order to give an effective response. Regarding financing, the main point is to focus on increasing support and accelerating fiscal transfer funds to local governments in an effort handle COVID-19. This paper wants to observe the empirical practice of local governments in various countries in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in terms of financing various programs and activities related to the COVID-19 response. Literature was obtained from several databases, namely PubMed, ScienceDirect, Cochrane Library and Google Scholar. Of the 783 articles obtained at the start of the search, in the end only 11 articles met the inclusion and exclusion criteria of this study. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is aparrent in all parts of the world, including in countries' local governments, that forced them to carry out various efforts of mitigating the severity of the pandemic. Although the detailes of local governments budgeting were not found in most of the articles studied in this literature review, it is sufficient to provide a fairly significant picture of the function of local government in tackling the spread of COVID-19.

How can we evaluate the potential of innovative vaccine products and technologies in resource constrained settings? A total systems effectiveness (TSE) approach to decision-making.

Innovations in vaccine product attributes could play an important role in addressing coverage and equity (C&E) gaps, but there is currently a poor understanding of the full system impact and trade-offs associated with investing in such technologies, both from the perspective of national immunisation programmes (NIPs) and vaccine developers. Total Systems Effectiveness (TSE) was developed as an approach to evaluate vaccines with different product attributes from a systems perspective, in order to analyse and compare the value of innovative vaccine products in different settings. The TSE approach has been advanced over the years by various stakeholders including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), Gavi, PATH, UNICEF and WHO. WHO further developed the TSE approach to incorporate the country perspective into immunisation decision-making, in order for countries to evaluate innovative products for introduction and product switch decisions, and for vaccine development stakeholders to conduct their assessments of product value in line with country preferences. This paper describes the original TSE approach, development of the tool and processes for NIPs to apply the WHO TSE approach, and results from piloting in 12 countries across Africa, Asia and the Americas. The WHO TSE framework emerged from this piloting effort. The WHO TSE approach has been welcomed by NIP and vaccine development stakeholders as a useful tool to evaluate trade-offs between different products. It was emphasised that the concept of "total systems effectiveness" is likely to be context-specific and that TSE is valuable in facilitating a deliberative process to articulate NIP priorities, for decisions around product choice, and for prioritising the development of future vaccine innovations.

What next after GDP-based cost-effectiveness thresholds?

Public payers around the world are increasingly using cost-effectiveness thresholds (CETs) to assess the value-for-money of an intervention and make coverage decisions. However, there is still much confusion about the meaning and uses of the CET, how it should be calculated, and what constitutes an adequate evidence base for its formulation. One widely referenced and used threshold in the last decade has been the 1-3 GDP per capita, which is often attributed to the Commission on Macroeconomics and  WHO guidelines on Choosing Interventions that are Cost Effective (WHO-CHOICE). For many reasons, however, this threshold has been widely criticised; which has led experts across the world, including the WHO, to discourage its use. This has left a vacuum for policy-makers and technical staff at a time when countries are wanting to move towards Universal Health Coverage . This article seeks to address this gap by offering five practical options for decision-makers in low- and middle-income countries that can be used instead of the 1-3 GDP rule, to combine existing evidence with fair decision-rules or develop locally relevant CETs. It builds on existing literature as well as an engagement with a group of experts and decision-makers working in low, middle and high income countries.

Economic burden of dengue in Indonesia.

BACKGROUND: Dengue is associated with significant economic expenditure and it is estimated that the Asia Pacific region accounts for >50% of the global cost. Indonesia has one of the world's highest dengue burdens; Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus are the primary and secondary vectors. In the absence of local data on disease cost, this study estimated the annual economic burden during 2015 of both hospitalized and ambulatory dengue cases in Indonesia. METHODS: Total 2015 dengue costs were calculated using both prospective and retrospective methods using data from public and private hospitals and health centres in three provinces: Yogyakarta, Bali and Jakarta. Direct costs were extracted from billing systems and claims; a patient survey captured indirect and out-of-pocket costs at discharge and 2 weeks later. Adjustments across sites based on similar clinical practices and healthcare landscapes were performed to fill gaps in cost estimates. The national burden of dengue was extrapolated from provincial data using data from the three sites and applying an empirically-derived epidemiological expansion factor. RESULTS: Total direct and indirect costs per dengue case assessed at Yogyakarta, Bali and Jakarta were US$791, US$1,241 and US$1,250, respectively. Total 2015 economic burden of dengue in Indonesia was estimated at US$381.15 million which comprised US$355.2 million for hospitalized and US$26.2 million for ambulatory care cases. CONCLUSION: Dengue imposes a substantial economic burden for Indonesian public payers and society. Complemented with an appropriate weighting method and by accounting for local specificities and practices, these data may support national level public health decision making for prevention/control of dengue in public health priority lists.

Cost analysis of vitrectomy under local versus general anesthesia in a developing country.

PURPOSE: To report cost reductions of vitrectomy under local anesthesia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study using medical records of consecutive patients undergoing vitrectomy surgery for retinal detachment under general or local anesthesia. Data of patient's fulfilling the inclusion criteria were included in the study. The patients were divided into two groups: Group 1 (local anesthesia) and Group 2 (general anesthesia). The preoperative data were checked and validated by a peer group consisting of two ophthalmologists, two internists, and two anesthesiologists independently in a blind manner. The calculation of the cost was done using the cost minimization analysis. The cost data were obtained from the finance division of the hospital for each individual treatment. The cost data included unit cost of laboratory tests, surgery, and medications. RESULT: There were 100 subjects (50 subjects in each group) assessed by peer groups and declared eligible to undergo surgery under either local or general anesthesia. Both groups were equal. The total average cost for vitreous surgery under general anesthesia for each patient was $322.17, whereas for local anesthesia it was $220.57. The mean difference was $101.60 (46.06%) saving on local anesthesia. CONCLUSION: Vitrectomy surgery under local anesthesia can reduce the cost by almost half that of general anesthesia. The present study showed that the type of anesthesia determined the ultimate cost for the surgery. Hence, surgery under local anesthesia appears affordable and cost-effective, especially in a developing country like Indonesia.

Economic evaluation of policy options for dialysis in end-stage renal disease patients under the universal health coverage in Indonesia.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to assess the value for money and budget impact of offering hemodialysis (HD) as a first-line treatment, or the HD-first policy, and the peritoneal dialysis (PD) first policy compared to a supportive care option in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in Indonesia. METHODS: A Markov model-based economic evaluation was performed using local and international data to quantify the potential costs and health-related outcomes in terms of life years (LYs) and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). Three policy options were compared, i.e., the PD-first policy, HD-first policy, and supportive care. RESULTS: The PD-first policy for ESRD patients resulted in 5.93 life years, equal to the HD-first policy, with a slightly higher QALY gained (4.40 vs 4.34). The total lifetime cost for a patient under the PD-first policy is around 700 million IDR, which is lower than the cost under the HD-first policy, i.e. 735 million IDR per patient. Compared to supportive care, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of the PD-first policy is 193 million IDR per QALY, while the HD-first policy resulted in 207 million IDR per QALY. Budget impact analysis indicated that the required budget for the PD-first policy is 43 trillion IDR for 53% coverage and 75 trillion IDR for 100% coverage in five years, which is less than the HD-first policy, i.e. 88 trillion IDR and 166 trillion IDR. CONCLUSIONS: The PD-first policy was found to be more cost-effective compared to the HD-first policy. Budget impact analysis provided evidence on the enormous financial burden for the country if the current practice, where HD dominates PD, continues for the next five years.

Cost of management of severe pneumonia in young children: systematic analysis.

BACKGROUND: Childhood pneumonia is a major cause of childhood illness and the second leading cause of child death globally. Understanding the costs associated with the management of childhood pneumonia is essential for resource allocation and priority setting for child health. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review to identify studies reporting data on the cost of management of pneumonia in children younger than 5 years old. We collected unpublished cost data on non-severe, severe and very severe pneumonia through collaboration with an international working group. We extracted data on cost per episode, duration of hospital stay and unit cost of interventions for the management of pneumonia. The mean (95% confidence interval, CI) and median (interquartile range, IQR) treatment costs were estimated and reported where appropriate. RESULTS: We identified 24 published studies eligible for inclusion and supplemented these with data from 10 unpublished studies. The 34 studies included in the cost analysis contained data on more than 95 000 children with pneumonia from both low- and-middle income countries (LMIC) and high-income countries (HIC) covering all 6 WHO regions. The total cost (per episode) for management of severe pneumonia was US$ 4.3 (95% CI 1.5-8.7), US$ 51.7 (95% CI 17.4-91.0) and US$ 242.7 (95% CI 153.6-341.4)-559.4 (95% CI 268.9-886.3) in community, out-patient facilities and different levels of hospital in-patient settings in LMIC. Direct medical cost for severe pneumonia in hospital inpatient settings was estimated to be 26.6%-115.8% of patients' monthly household income in LMIC. The mean direct non-medical cost and indirect cost for severe pneumonia management accounted for 0.5-31% of weekly household income. The mean length of stay (LOS) in hospital for children with severe pneumonia was 5.8 (IQR 5.3-6.4) and 7.7 (IQR 5.5-9.9) days in LMIC and HIC respectively for these children. CONCLUSION: This is the most comprehensive review to date of cost data from studies on the management of childhood pneumonia and these data should be helpful for health services planning and priority setting by national programmes and international agencies.

Expenditure on obstetric care and the protective effect of insurance on the poor: lessons from two Indonesian districts.

OBJECTIVE: The Indonesian Government recently introduced a health insurance scheme to improve access to care for the poor. We investigated the payments made by households for different types of obstetric care, the economic consequences of payments and the effects of the new insurance on that expenditure. METHODS: Expenditures on obstetric care for women were collected from three main hospitals in the Serang and Pandeglang districts of Banten Province for all 'near-miss' cases (372), a sample of normal deliveries (146) and deliveries with Caesarean section (98) over a 6-month period. Women were also interviewed after they were discharged to collect information on economic status, household expenditure and source of payment for care. FINDINGS: Average expenditure by the mothers for near-miss cases was found to be Rp 2.6m (US$279) and Rp 1.9m (US$205) in Serang and Pandeglang Hospitals, respectively. Caesarean section was found to be the most expensive intervention. Insurance for the poor covered 51% of women at Serang Hospital and 73% of women at Pandeglang. Around 68% of households in the poorest quintiles would have made catastrophic payments. Insurance for the poor appears to have some positive association with the hospitals' expenditure for treatment of different types of maternal care. CONCLUSION: Insurance for the poor appeared to be relatively effective in protecting households from catastrophic payments. However, it is not sufficient only to cover the very poor; the non-poor can also suffer catastrophic payments and they are only protected because hospital rules over who qualifies have been relaxed. Although the association between insurance and expenditure for obstetric care was important, it was not clear that this represents over-provision of services but rather that it reflected previously inadequate treatment given to those unable to pay.