title: Prevention of β Thalassemia in Northern Israel - a Cost-Benefit Analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  β Thalassemia major is characterized by hemolytic anemia, ineffective erythropoiesis and hemosiderosis. About 4% of the world population carries a Thalassemia gene. Management includes blood transfusions and iron chelation. However, this treatment is costly, and population screening may be significantly more cost beneficial.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the current study is to analyze the cost of running a prevention program for β Thalassemia in Israel and to compare it to the actual expenses incurred by treating Thalassemia patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  THREE COST PARAMETERS WERE ANALYZED AND COMPARED: the prevention program, routine treatment of patients and treatment of complications. An estimation of the expenses needed to treat patients who present with complications was calculated based on our ongoing experience in treating deteriorating patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The cost of preventing one affected newborn was $63,660 compared to $1,971,380 for treatment of a patient during 50 years (mean annual cost: $39,427). Thus, the prevention of 45 affected newborns over a ten year period represents a net saving of $88.5 million to the health budget. Even after deducting the cost of the prevention program ($413.795/year), the program still represents a benefit of $76 million over ten years. Each prevented case could pay the screening and prevention program for 4.6 years.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Dept B and Pediatric Hematology Unit, Emek Medical Center, Afula, Israel. ; The Ruth and Baruch Rappaport School of Medicine, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: Ariel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Koren
authors.affiliation: Emek Medical Centre, Afula, Israel, Affiliated with the Technion School of Medicine, Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: Lora
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Profeta
authors.affiliation: Hematology Laboratory, Emek Medical Centre, Afula, Israel.
authors.forename: Luci
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zalman
authors.affiliation: Hematology Laboratory, Emek Medical Centre, Afula, Israel.
authors.forename: Haya
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Palmor
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Dept B and Pediatric Hematology Unit, Emek Medical Center, Afula, Israel. ; The Ruth and Baruch Rappaport School of Medicine, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: Carina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Levin
authors.affiliation: Unit of Genetics, Emek Medical Centre, Afula, Israel.
authors.forename: Ronit Bril
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Zamir
authors.affiliation: The Ruth and Baruch Rappaport School of Medicine, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel. ; Unit of Genetics, Emek Medical Centre, Afula, Israel.
authors.forename: Stavit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shalev
authors.affiliation: The Ruth and Baruch Rappaport School of Medicine, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel. ; Emek Medical Centre, Afula, Israel, Affiliated with the Technion School of Medicine, Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: Orna
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Blondheim