A symptomatic approach to tuberculosis screening for high-risk groups in Malaysia: Cost-effectiveness and budget...

One of the crucial areas of eliminating TB is the early detection of cases through the screening programme. This study's focal point is to measure the relative cost-effectiveness and budget impact of the symptomatic approach compared to the existing approach of TB screening (consisted of both symptomatic and asymptomatic screening) among high-risk groups in Malaysia.

The Cost-Effectiveness Analysis (CEA) was measured using a decision tree model and the outcome is presented in terms of cost per TB case detected and the ICER. Analysis was conducted using secondary data collected from the Disease Control Division, Sabah and Sarawak State Health Departments. The robustness of the model is determined by Deterministic and Probabilistic Sensitivity Analysis. Subsequently, Budget impact over 5 years period, from 2018 to 2022 was estimated for both approaches.

The symptomatic approach was more cost-effective than the existing approach with ICER of MYR 424.71. The cost of conducting Sputum for Acid Fast Bacilli (SAFB) was found as the key driver for ICER. Budget Impact Analysis showed that switching from the existing approach towards the symptomatic approach would result in a cost-saving of MYR 65.5 million over 5 years. However, this would lead to 4473 TB cases being undetected over the same duration.

This study suggests that the policymakers have to weigh the trade-off between cost-saving and TB case detection. This cost-saving can be channelled to new TB intervention programme with a higher chance of TB case detection. Nevertheless, any decision made must be in concordance to the objectives of the country's TB programme.