Modeling the Likely Economic Cost of Non-Adherence to TB Medicines in the Philippines
Modeling the Likely Economic Cost of Non-Adherence to TB Medicines in the Philippines
Abstract
Setting
The Philippines has a population of over 90 million people and is one of the 22 highest TB burden countries in the world.
Objective
To understand the economic cost of non-adherence to TB medicines due to loss to follow up and stock-outs in the Philippines.
Design
Data were collected on the economic costs of non-adherence to TB medicines and a model was developed to show those costs under different scenarios.
Results
The model showed that as many as 1958 and 233 persons are likely to have died as a result of DS-TB and MDR-TB loss to follow up, respectively, and 588 persons are likely to have died as a result of TB medicine stock outs. The related economic impact in each case is likely have been to be as much as US$72.2 million, US$13.4 million and US$21.0 million, respectively.
Conclusion
The economic costs of non-adherence to TB medicines due to loss to follow-up and stock-outs represent a significant economic burden for the country and it is likely that the cost of addressing these problems would be much less than this burden and, therefore, a wise investment.
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