Framework for developing cost-effectiveness analysis threshold: the case of Egypt.

Area of Science:

• Health Economics
• Health Policy
• Pharmacoeconomics

Background:

• Cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) requires benchmark thresholds for policy relevance.
• The cost-effectiveness threshold (CET) quantifies acceptable cost per unit of health gain.
• Global variation in CETs necessitates context-specific frameworks.

Purpose of the Study:

• Identify global CET values and trends.
• Analyze the application of multiple CETs.
• Develop a country-specific CET framework for Egypt.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of international CETs.
• Expert panel consultation for Egyptian framework development.
• Multi-stakeholder workshop for consensus on Egypt's CET.

Main Results:

• Global average CET is 135% of GDP per capita (range 21-300%).
• Higher income correlates with lower CET as % of GDP per capita.
• Egypt's framework recommends 1-3x GDP per capita CET, with multipliers for orphan drugs and private reimbursement.

Conclusions:

• CETs are strongly linked to GDP per capita globally.
• Lower-income countries tend to have higher CETs relative to GDP per capita.
• Egypt adopted a multiple CET system for evaluating health technologies.