Abstract

Abstract

Abstract:

Cost-effectiveness analysis combines information about the costs and outcomes of a community prevention program to produce information that can be used to answer questions about whether a program is cost-effective, whether program expansions would be cost-effective, and/or whether a program is more or less cost-effective than alternative prevention strategies. A cost-effectiveness ratio is calculated by dividing the net cost by variations in health outcomes. Examples include the price each sickness case that is averted or the price per life lost. However, the outcomes are presented as net cost savings if the net costs are negative (meaning a more effective intervention is less expensive). Target interventions also should address disease conditions that are major sources of infant and childhood mortality and infectious disease burdens, to better address the needs of those who are underserved by the current system. Currently, decisions about which health care services to cover are typically made by expert committees rather than through systematic assessments of efficacy and cost-effectiveness, in part because the evidence base on economic evaluations of health interventions in India remains sparse and of low quality. However, in recent years, the government has taken several steps towards establishing the infrastructure for evidence-based priority setting and resource allocation. India has great potential for improving the health of its people at relatively low cost.

Key Words: interventions, diseases, cost-effectiveness, public programs