Switching from trivalent to quadrivalent inactivated influenza vaccines in Uruguay: a cost-effectiveness analysis.

We evaluated the cost-utility of replacing trivalent influenza vaccine (TIV) with quadrivalent influenza vaccine (QIV) in the current target populations in Uruguay. An existing decision-analytic static cost-effectiveness model was adapted for Uruguay. The population was stratified into age groups. Costs and outcomes were estimated for an average influenza season, based on observed rates from 2013 to 2019 inclusive. Introducing QIV instead of TIV in Uruguay would avoid around 740 additional influenza cases, 500 GP consultations, 15 hospitalizations, and three deaths, and save around 300 workdays, for the same vaccination coverage during an average influenza season. Most of the influenza-related consultations and hospitalizations would be avoided among children ≤4 and adults ≥65 years of age. Using QIV rather than TIV would cost an additional ~US$729,000, but this would be partially offset by savings in consultations and hospitalization costs. The incremental cost per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) gained with QIV would be in the order of US$18,000 for both the payor and societal perspectives, for all age groups, and around US$12,000 for adults ≥65 years of age. The main drivers influencing the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio were the vaccine efficacy against the B strains and the percentage of match each season with the B strain included in TIV. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis showed that switching to QIV would provide a favorable cost-utility ratio for 50% of simulations at a willingness-to-pay per QALY of US$20,000. A switch to QIV is expected to be cost-effective for the current target populations in Uruguay, particularly for older adults.

Valuing the cost of improving Chilean primary vaccination: a cost minimization analysis of a hexavalent vaccine.

BACKGROUND: The phased withdrawal of oral polio vaccine (OPV) and the introduction of inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) is central to the polio 'end-game' strategy. METHODS: We analyzed the cost implications in Chile of a switch from the vaccination scheme consisting of a pentavalent vaccine with whole-cell pertussis component (wP) plus IPV/OPV vaccines to a scheme with a hexavalent vaccine with acellular pertussis component (aP) and IPV (Hexaxim®) from a societal perspective. Cost data were collected from a variety of sources including national estimates and previous vaccine studies. All costs were expressed in 2017 prices (US$ 1.00 = $Ch 666.26). RESULTS: The overall costs associated with the vaccination scheme (4 doses of pentavalent vaccine plus 1 dose IPV and 3 doses OPV) from a societal perspective was estimated to be US$ 12.70 million, of which US$ 8.84 million were associated with the management of adverse events related to wP. In comparison, the cost associated with the 4-dose scheme with a hexavalent vaccine (based upon the PAHO reference price) was US$ 19.76 million. The cost of switching to the hexavalent vaccine would be an additional US$ 6.45 million. Overall, depending on the scenario, the costs of switching to the hexavalent scheme would range from an additional US$ 2.62 million to US$ 6.45 million compared with the current vaccination scheme. CONCLUSIONS: The switch to the hexavalent vaccine schedule in Chile would lead to additional acquisition costs, which would be partially offset by improved logistics, and a reduction in adverse events associated with the current vaccines.

Modalidades de pago de la atención médica / Payment methods for medical care

El estudio de las modalidades de pago de la atención médica ocupa un lugar en cualquier proceso de reforma del sector salud. La modalidad de pago adoptada en un determinado sistema está en íntima relación con las principales características organizacionales del mismo y con los objetivos que persigue. Las relaciones existentes entre los diferentes actores, el usuario - beneficiario, el financiador y el proveedor se encuentran determinadas por la diferencia o la concordancia de los objetivos que persiguen y ello se refleja en la modalidad de pago predominante. El modelo adoptado es tanto un efecto de la organización del sistema sanitario en el que se desarrolla, como también un elemento determinante de algunas características predominantes del mismo. El diseño de modalidades de pago eficientes y que beneficien a todos los actores del sistema radica en la distribución equilibrada de los riesgos financieros considerando las ventajas y desventajas de cada modalidad.

Summary The ways that medical fee-paying take place, play an important role in any reform process of the health sector and are closely related to the main characteristics of the organization and its objectives. Relations between users, financiers, providers are determined by the existing differences or agreements with the objectives they aim at, they are reflected in a predominant way of stating medical-fees. The model chosen is both an effect of the health sector organization and a determinant factor of some of its predominant characteristics. The design of medical fee-paying models that include cost-effectiveness relations depends on a balanced distribution of financial risks considering advantages and disadvantages for each way.

Résumé L'analyse des moyens de paiement de l'assistance médicale a une place considérable dans toute réforme du domaine de la santé. Les modalités de paiement adopté dans un système déterminé est en étroite relation avec les caractéristiques organisationnelles de celui-ci et avec les buts visés. Les relations qui existent parmi les différents protagonistes sont déterminées par la différence ou la concordance des objectifs visés et cela se fait évident dans la modalité de paiement établie. Le modèle adopté est soit un effet de l'organisation du système sanitaire où il agit, soit un élément déterminant de certaines de ses caractéristiques essentielles. Le modèle des formes de paiement efficaces et qui sont convenables pour tous les acteurs du système, se base sur la distribution équilibrée des risques économiques tout en considérant les avantages et les désavantages de chaque modalité.