The Direct Financial and Human Resource Costs of Providing Tuberculosis Treatment Services in Nigeria, 2008-2012
The Health Systems 20/20 project developed a customizable costing model using MS-Excel software to look at the direct cost implications of the Nigerian tuberculosis control program over the period 2008-12, based on the resources required to support future caseloads. The model simulates treatment cohorts for each of Nigeria's 37 states and accounts for cured, relapse, default, etc. treatment outcomes and retreatment issues. The methodology incorporates actual treatment outcome data for each state in Nigeria. The unit costs are built "bottom-up" using an ingredients approach, accounting for intensive vs. continuation phase treatment, for treatment of naïve cases vs. retreatment, and for adult vs. pediatric treatment. In addition, direct costs of inpatient care and multi-drug resistant (MDR)-TB treatment, as well as TB-HIV program coordination, are included. Full-time equivalent health workers required to diagnose, prescribe, and monitor drug intake are also estimated for each year from 2008 to 2012. The user can modify the unit cost ingredients and set treatment regimens and all prices.
