ABSTRACT
Background: Today, the health sector in many countries is facing with severe resource constraints; hence it is absolutely necessary that cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness assessment have a major role in design of health services. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the cost-benefit and effectiveness of cervical cancer screening service [Pap smear test] done by the health centers in Damavand County in 2013
Methods: This is a descriptive study with cross-sectional method. All data was extracted from existing documents in Damavand health network. Cost of service screening for doing Pap smear test [manpower costs of performing the service, the cost of transferring samples, water, electricity, telephone and gas] was estimated in all health centers then results, were compared with the incomes of this service
Results: Screening program coverage was 22.3%, 6.9% and 6.05% in 2011, 2012 and 2013 respectively. All costs and incomes of units performing Pap smear screening test were calculated. Entire costs and incomes of this service during 2013 were respectively 303,009,000 and 11,640,000 RLS equal $12,227 and $496.73. Therefore, the cost-benefit ratio of this screening test was approximately 0.040
Conclusion: The costs of units performing cervical cancer screening test in Damavand Health Center were much more than this benefit and because of a none-positive Pap smear test in spite of high cost, performing this test in Damavand health centers was not cost effective