Assessment of the Feasibility and Cost of Hepatitis C Elimination in Pakistan
2019
This study investigates the feasibility and cost of hepatitis C virus (HCV) elimination in Pakistan using a decision analytical model and microsimulation techniques from 2015 to 2030. Various scenarios, including the status quo and seven elimination strategies, were evaluated based on Pakistan-specific variables. Main outcomes included trends in HCV prevalence, mortality, disability-adjusted life-years, and total costs of HCV care. Results suggest that to achieve HCV elimination by 2030, significant scale-up of testing and treatment is necessary, with at least 25 million people needing testing and 700,000 individuals requiring treatment annually. Compared to the status quo, the elimination scenario could prevent a substantial number of liver-related deaths and HCV-associated disability-adjusted life-years, leading to cost savings of $2.6 billion from 2018 to 2030. The study concludes that while HCV elimination in Pakistan may be challenging, strategic planning and governmental support could facilitate its achievement.
Assessment of the Feasibility and Cost of Hepatitis C Elimination in Pakistan
Source:
Chhatwal J, Chen Q, Wang X et al. Assessment of the Feasibility and Cost of Hepatitis C Elimination in Pakistan. JAMA Network Open 2019; 2 (5): e193613. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.3613