title: The Socioeconomic Benefit to Individuals of Achieving the 2020 Targets for Five Preventive Chemotherapy Neglected Tropical Diseases.
abstract: Lymphatic filariasis (LF), onchocerciasis, schistosomiasis, soil-transmitted helminths (STH) and trachoma represent the five most prevalent neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). They can be controlled or eliminated by means of safe and cost-effective interventions delivered through programs of Mass Drug Administration (MDA)-also named Preventive Chemotherapy (PCT). The WHO defined targets for NTD control/elimination by 2020, reinforced by the 2012 London Declaration, which, if achieved, would result in dramatic health gains. We estimated the potential economic benefit of achieving these targets, focusing specifically on productivity and out-of-pocket payments.
  
  
  
  Productivity loss was calculated by combining disease frequency with productivity loss from the disease, from the perspective of affected individuals. Productivity gain was calculated by deducting the total loss expected in the target achievement scenario from the loss in a counterfactual scenario where it was assumed the pre-intervention situation in 1990 regarding NTDs would continue unabated until 2030. Economic benefits from out-of-pocket payments (OPPs) were calculated similarly. Benefits are reported in 2005 US$ (purchasing power parity-adjusted and discounted at 3% per annum from 2010). Sensitivity analyses were used to assess the influence of changes in input parameters.
  
  
  
  The economic benefit from productivity gain was estimated to be I$251 billion in 2011-2020 and I$313 billion in 2021-2030, considerably greater than the total OPPs averted of I$0.72 billion and I$0.96 billion in the same periods. The net benefit is expected to be US$ 27.4 and US$ 42.8 for every dollar invested during the same periods. Impact varies between NTDs and regions, since it is determined by disease prevalence and extent of disease-related productivity loss.
  
  
  
  Achieving the PCT-NTD targets for 2020 will yield significant economic benefits to affected individuals. Despite large uncertainty, these benefits far exceed the investment required by governments and their development partners within all reasonable scenarios. Given the concentration of the NTDs among the poorest households, these investments represent good value for money in efforts to share the world's prosperity and reduce inequity.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health Policy & Management, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: William K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Redekop
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health Policy & Management, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Edeltraud J
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-2438-4371
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Lenk
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health Policy & Management, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Luyendijk
authors.affiliation: Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fitzpatrick
authors.affiliation: Centre for Applied Health Research and Delivery, Department of International Public Health, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Louis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Niessen
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Wilma A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Stolk
authors.affiliation: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tediosi
authors.affiliation: Medical Delta, Delft, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Adriana J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Rijnsburger
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Roel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bakker
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jan A C
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hontelez
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jan H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Richardus
authors.affiliation: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle, WA, United States of America.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jacobson
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Sake J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: de Vlas
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health Policy & Management, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Johan L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Severens
mesh_terms: D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics; D018890:Chemoprevention / Q000191:economics*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D006373:Helminthiasis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D058069:Neglected Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014330:Tropical Medicine / Q000191:economics
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics