Economic valuation of the impact of a large surgical charity using the value of lost welfare approach
View/ Open
Published Version
https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2016-000059Metadata
Show full item recordCitation
Corlew, Daniel Scott, Blake C Alkire, Dan Poenaru, John G Meara, and Mark G Shrime. 2016. “Economic valuation of the impact of a large surgical charity using the value of lost welfare approach.” BMJ Global Health 1 (4): e000059. doi:10.1136/bmjgh-2016-000059. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2016-000059.Abstract
Background: The assessment of the economic burden of surgical disease is integral to determining allocation of resources for health globally. We estimate the economic gain realised over an 11-year period resulting from a vertical surgical programme addressing cleft lip (CL) and cleft palate (CP). Methods: The database from a large non-governmental organisation (Smile Train) over an 11-year period was analysed. Incidence-based disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) averted through the programme were calculated, discounted 3%, using disability weights from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study and an effectiveness factor for each surgical intervention. The effectiveness factor allowed for the lack of 100% resolution of the disability from the operation. We used the value of lost welfare approach, based on the concept of the value of a statistical life (VSL), to assess the economic gain associated with each operation. Using income elasticities (IEs) tailored to the income level of each country, a country-specific VSL was calculated and the VSL-year (VSLY) was determined. The VSLY is the economic value of a DALY, and the DALYs averted were converted to economic gain per patient and aggregated to give a total value and an average per patient. Sensitivity analyses were performed based on the variations of IE applied for each country. Results: Each CL operation averted 2.2 DALYs on average and each CP operation 3.3. Total averted DALYs were 1 325 678 (CP 686 577 and CL 639 102). The economic benefit from the programme was between US$7.9 and US$20.7 billion. Per patient, the average benefit was between US$16 133 and US$42 351. Expense per DALY averted was estimated to be $149. Conclusions: Addressing basic surgical needs in developing countries provides a massive economic boost through improved health. Expansion of surgical capacity in the developing world is of significant economic and health value and should be a priority in global health efforts.Other Sources
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5321371/pdf/Terms of Use
This article is made available under the terms and conditions applicable to Other Posted Material, as set forth at http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:dash.current.terms-of-use#LAACitable link to this page
http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:33490784
Collections
- HMS Scholarly Articles [17918]
Contact administrator regarding this item (to report mistakes or request changes)