In:
PLOS Computational Biology, Public Library of Science (PLoS), Vol. 17, No. 9 ( 2021-9-27), p. e1009255-
Abstract:
Approximately 85% of tuberculosis (TB) related deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries where health resources are scarce. Effective priority setting is required to maximise the impact of limited budgets. The Optima TB tool has been developed to support analytical capacity and inform evidence-based priority setting processes for TB health benefits package design. This paper outlines the Optima TB framework and how it was applied in Belarus, an upper-middle income country in Eastern Europe with a relatively high burden of TB. Optima TB is a population-based disease transmission model, with programmatic cost functions and an optimisation algorithm. Modelled populations include age-differentiated general populations and higher-risk populations such as people living with HIV. Populations and prospective interventions are defined in consultation with local stakeholders. In partnership with the latter, demographic, epidemiological, programmatic, as well as cost and spending data for these populations and interventions are then collated. An optimisation analysis of TB spending was conducted in Belarus, using program objectives and constraints defined in collaboration with local stakeholders, which included experts, decision makers, funders and organisations involved in service delivery, support and technical assistance. These analyses show that it is possible to improve health impact by redistributing current TB spending in Belarus. Specifically, shifting funding from inpatient- to outpatient-focused care models, and from mass screening to active case finding strategies, could reduce TB prevalence and mortality by up to 45% and 50%, respectively, by 2035. In addition, an optimised allocation of TB spending could lead to a reduction in drug-resistant TB infections by 40% over this period. This would support progress towards national TB targets without additional financial resources. The case study in Belarus demonstrates how reallocations of spending across existing and new interventions could have a substantial impact on TB outcomes. This highlights the potential for Optima TB and similar modelling tools to support evidence-based priority setting.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
1553-7358
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009255
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009255.g001
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009255.g002
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009255.g003
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009255.g004
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009255.g005
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009255.g006
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009255.t001
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009255.t002
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009255.t003
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009255.s001
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009255.s002
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009255.s003
Language:
English
Publisher:
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Publication Date:
2021
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2193340-6
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