Economic performance and cost-effectiveness of using a DEC-salt social enterprise for eliminating the major neglected tropical disease, lymphatic filariasis.

BACKGROUND: Salt fortified with the drug, diethylcarbamazine (DEC), and introduced into a competitive market has the potential to overcome the obstacles associated with tablet-based Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) elimination programs. Questions remain, however, regarding the economic viability, production capacity, and effectiveness of this strategy as a sustainable means to bring about LF elimination in resource poor settings. METHODOLOGY AND PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We evaluated the performance and effectiveness of a novel social enterprise-based approach developed and tested in Léogâne, Haiti, as a strategy to sustainably and cost-efficiently distribute DEC-medicated salt into a competitive market at quantities sufficient to bring about the elimination of LF. We undertook a cost-revenue analysis to evaluate the production capability and financial feasibility of the developed DEC salt social enterprise, and a modeling study centered on applying a dynamic mathematical model localized to reflect local LF transmission dynamics to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of using this intervention versus standard annual Mass Drug Administration (MDA) for eliminating LF in Léogâne. We show that the salt enterprise because of its mixed product business strategy may have already reached the production capacity for delivering sufficient quantities of edible DEC-medicated salt to bring about LF transmission in the Léogâne study setting. Due to increasing revenues obtained from the sale of DEC salt over time, expansion of its delivery in the population, and greater cumulative impact on the survival of worms leading to shorter timelines to extinction, this strategy could also represent a significantly more cost-effective option than annual DEC tablet-based MDA for accomplishing LF elimination. SIGNIFICANCE: A social enterprise approach can offer an innovative market-based strategy by which edible salt fortified with DEC could be distributed to communities both on a financially sustainable basis and at sufficient quantity to eliminate LF. Deployment of similarly fashioned intervention strategies would improve current efforts to successfully accomplish the goal of LF elimination, particularly in difficult-to-control settings.

Costs of integrated mass drug administration for neglected tropical diseases in Haiti.

We conducted a cost analysis of Haiti's Ministry of Public Health and Population neglected tropical disease program, Projet des Maladies Tropicales Negligées and collected data for 9 of 55 communes participating in the May 2008-April 2009 mass drug administration (MDA). The Projet des Maladies Tropicales Negligées Program partnered with IMA World Health and Hôpital Ste. Croix to implement MDA for treatment of lymphatic filariasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis by using once a year treatment with albendazole and diethylcarbamazine in a population of approximately 8 million persons. Methods included analyzing partner financial records and conducting retrospective surveys of personnel. In the nine communes, 633,261 persons were treated at a cost of U.S. $0.64 per person, which included the cost of donated drugs, and at a cost of U.S. $0.42 per person treated, when excluding donated drug costs. The MDA for lymphatic filariasis in Haiti began in 2000, with the treatment of 105,750 persons at a cost per person of U.S. $2.23. The decrease in cost per person treated is the result of cumulative implementation experience and economies of scale.

National mass drug administration costs for lymphatic filariasis elimination.

BACKGROUND: Because lymphatic filariasis (LF) elimination efforts are hampered by a dearth of economic information about the cost of mass drug administration (MDA) programs (using either albendazole with diethylcarbamazine [DEC] or albendazole with ivermectin), a multicenter study was undertaken to determine the costs of MDA programs to interrupt transmission of infection with LF. Such results are particularly important because LF programs have the necessary diagnostic and treatment tools to eliminate the disease as a public health problem globally, and already by 2006, the Global Programme to Eliminate LF had initiated treatment programs covering over 400 million of the 1.3 billion people at risk. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: To obtain annual costs to carry out the MDA strategy, researchers from seven countries developed and followed a common cost analysis protocol designed to estimate 1) the total annual cost of the LF program, 2) the average cost per person treated, and 3) the relative contributions of the endemic countries and the external partners. Costs per person treated ranged from $0.06 to $2.23. Principal reasons for the variation were 1) the age (newness) of the MDA program, 2) the use of volunteers, and 3) the size of the population treated. Substantial contributions by governments were documented - generally 60%-90% of program operation costs, excluding costs of donated medications. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: MDA for LF elimination is comparatively inexpensive in relation to most other public health programs. Governments and communities make the predominant financial contributions to actual MDA implementation, not counting the cost of the drugs themselves. The results highlight the impact of the use of volunteers on program costs and provide specific cost data for 7 different countries that can be used as a basis both for modifying current programs and for developing new ones.

The Leogane, Haiti demonstration project: decreased microfilaremia and program costs after three years of mass drug administration.

To support the global program to eliminate lymphatic filariasis (LF), well-monitored demonstration projects are important for defining the relationship between coverage and reductions in microfilaremia. We are using mass treatment with diethylcarbamazine (DEC) and albendazole in an effort to eliminate LF from Leogane, Haiti. Wuchereria bancrofti microfilaremia prevalence at baseline ranged from 0.8% to 15.9% in four sentinel sites. After three rounds of DEC-albendazole mass drug administration (MDA), both microfilaremia prevalence and intensity decreased dramatically. Mild and moderate adverse reactions after treatment were common, especially after the first MDA, but decreased after subsequent MDAs. Drug coverage for the first year was estimated to be 72%, but concerns about adverse reactions appeared to decrease drug coverage in the second MDA. As a result of community education efforts that focused on providing a greater understanding of adverse reactions, coverage increased dramatically for the third round. Program efficiency increased substantially; the costs per person treated for three rounds of MDA were 2.23 US dollars, 1.96 US dollars, and 1.30 US dollars per person, respectively. The Leogane experience highlights the importance of adapting community education and mobilization campaigns to achieve and maintain good coverage.

Frequency, severity, and costs of adverse reactions following mass treatment for lymphatic filariasis using diethylcarbamazine and albendazole in Leogane, Haiti, 2000.

In October 2000, 71,187 persons were treated for lymphatic filariasis using albendazole and diethylcarbamazine (DEC) or DEC alone in Leogane, Haiti. We documented the frequency of adverse reactions, severity and cost of treatment. Adverse reactions were classified as minor, moderate, or severe. Overall, 24% (17,421) of the treated persons reported one or more adverse reactions. There were 15,916 (91%) minor and 1502 (9%) moderate adverse reaction reports. Men outnumbered women 2:1 in reporting moderate problems. Three patients, representing roughly one in 25,000 persons treated, were hospitalized with severe adverse reactions judged to be treatment-associated by physician review. The cost per person treated for adverse reactions was more than twice the cost per person treated for lymphatic filariasis (dollar 1.60 versus dollar 0.71). Severe adverse reactions to lymphatic filariasis treatment using DEC with or without albendazole are uncommon. Minor and moderate reactions are more commonly reported and their management represents a challenge to lymphatic filariasis elimination programs.

Comparison of methods for estimating drug coverage for filariasis elimination, Leogane Commune, Haiti.

In the global effort to eliminate lymphatic filariasis, annual mass treatments are conducted with diethylcarbamazine (DEC) or ivermectin, combined with albendazole. The success of this strategy depends on achieving high levels of drug coverage, which reduces the number of persons with circulating microfilariae so that transmission of the parasite is interrupted. Because resources are often limited, a simple, inexpensive, and reliable method to estimate drug coverage is needed. During the period December 2000 to February 2001, three methods were used to assess drug coverage in Leogane Commune, Haiti: a probability survey using a cluster sample design (n = 1421 persons); a distribution-point survey based on a convenience sample of houses near the distribution points (n = 4341 persons); and a survey based on a convenience sample of primary schools (n = 5036 children). The coverage estimations were 71.3% (95% CI 66.7-75.9), 73.6% (95% CI 70.1-77.0), and 77.8% (95% CI 73.5-82.1), respectively. Survey costs for the probability, distribution point, and school surveys were US$2217, US$979, and US$312, respectively. The 2 convenience sampling methods provided point estimates of drug coverage that were similar to those of the probability survey. These methods may have a role for monitoring drug treatment coverage between less frequent, but more costly, probability sample surveys.

Cost-effectiveness of the use of vector control and mass drug administration, separately or in combination, against lymphatic filariasis.

The costs and effects of two intervention strategies for the control of bancroftian filariasis-annual mass drug administrations (MDA) with a combination of diethylcarbamazine and ivermectin, with or without integrated vector control (VC)-were estimated in rural villages in South India. The aim was to compare the cost-effectiveness of MDA alone with that of MDA plus VC. Control of the local vector, Culex quinquefasciatus, was based on the application of polystyrene beads to cesspits, the treatment of drains with larvicidal Bacillus sphaericus and the stocking of wells with larvivorous fish. An itemized cost menu was used to cost MDA and MDA + VC, retrospectively. The annual transmission potential was used to assess the direct outcome of the disease-control methods, whereas the prevalence and intensity of microfilaraemia were used as indicators of the impact of each method. The per-capita costs were 1.49 U.S. dollars for two rounds of MDA, 1.70 U.S. dollars for 2 years of VC and, therefore, 3.19 U.S. dollars for 2 years of MDA + VC. Integration of VC with MDA did not appear to be cost-effective: it cost an estimated 1.80 U.S. dollars to stop an infective mosquito biting a villager using MDA alone but 3.32 U.S. dollars to achieve the same result using MDA + VC. Similarly, the cost to reduce the prevalence of microfilaraemia in a three-village group by 1% was only 96.62 U.S. dollars for MDA alone but 201.16 U.S. dollars when vector control was integrated. The implications of these results for the control and elimination of filariasis in Indian village communities, and the options for sharing and minimizing costs, are discussed.

Cost of mass annual single dose diethylcarbamazine distribution for the large scale control of lymphatic filariasis.

Economic analysis of the revised strategy to control lymphatic filariasis with mass annual single dose diethylcarbamazine (DEC) at 6 mg/kg body weight launched in one of the districts of Tamil Nadu in 1996 was carried out. This exploratory study, proposed for five years in 13 districts under 7 states on a pilot scale through the Department of Public Health is an additional input of the existing National Filaria Control Programme in India. A retrospective costing exercise was undertaken systematically from the provider's perspective following the completion of the first round of drug distribution. The major activities and cost components were identified and itemized cost menu was prepared to estimate the direct (financial) and indirect (opportunity) cost related to the implementation of the Programme. The total financial cost of this Programme to cover 22.7 lakh population in the district was Rs. 22.05 lakhs. The opportunity cost of labour and capital investment was calculated to be Rs. 7.98 lakhs. The total per capita cost was Rs. 1.32, with Rs. 0.97 and Rs. 0.35 as financial and opportunity cost respectively. Based on these estimates, the implementation cost of the Programme at Primary Health Centre (PHC) level was calculated and projected for five years. The additional financial cost for the existing health care system is estimated to be Rs. 27,800 per PHC every year. DEC tablets (50 mg) was the major cost component and sensitivity analysis showed that the cost of the Programme could be minimized by 20 per cent by switching over to 100 mg tablets. The analysis indicates that this Programme is a low-cost option and the results are discussed in view of its operational feasibility and epidemiological impact.

Cost and cost effectiveness of mass diethylcarbamazine chemotherapy for the control of bancroftian filariasis: comparison of four strategies in Tanzania.

This study examines the costs and cost effectiveness of four different mass diethylcarbamazine (DEC) chemotherapy regimens-standard dose, semi-annual single dose, low monthly dose and DEC-medicated salt-in reducing microfilarial (mf) prevalence at the community level. Costs were estimated for each intervention in relation to both ingredient and activity, by the derivation and use of detailed itemized cost menus. The most expensive and most effective strategy in reducing community mf prevalence over 2 years was DEC salt intervention, followed in order of costs by the standard, low monthly and semi-annual DEC strategies. The most cost effective strategy was the low monthly DEC treatment. Cost and sensitivity analyses, however, suggest that the optimal choice of mass DEC strategy for reducing mf is very sensitive to programme design parameters. In particular, the results demonstrate that if the salt delivery structure is simplified, DEC salt has the potential to be the dominant intervention for filariasis control. The results suggest that economies of scale considerations might militate against the adoption of this intervention for large-scale applications, unless perhaps offset by its potential for cost recovery by direct patient purchase. Further analyses require a more realistic evaluation of filariasis intervention effectiveness by addressing changes in infection intensity and by accounting for the population dynamics of parasite transmission and control.