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URC/CHS Projects
Research & Evaluation
Diagnostic Test Cost Analysis for the Developing World
Client: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
The spread of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis (TB), and malaria account for 5.6 million deaths each year, the great majority of which occur in the developing world. High treatment costs of HIV/AIDS and other diseases make correct diagnosis essential. Early and correct diagnosis of these diseases can produce a wide range of benefits, including prevention or delay of the spread of drug-resistant microbes. In addition, the ability to rule out malaria can lead to more opportune diagnosis and treatment of other causes of fever, such as meningitis or pneumonia.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has recognized that improving access to accurate diagnostic tools is critical to stemming the spread of these and other diseases, including sexually transmitted infections. In January 2007, the Foundation awarded the Center for Human Services (CHS) a grant to research potential demand for six diagnostics of diseases that cause high morbidity and mortality in the developing world. Under this grant CHS is contributing to the Gates Foundation’s vision of accelerating access to existing vaccines, drugs, and other tools to fight diseases that disproportionately affect developing countries and to find new health technologies that are effective, affordable, and practical for use in poor countries.
URC/CHS Services
Conduct research in on six diagnostic tools:
- a test for HIV diagnosis in young children (<18 months);
- a rapid home-based test of malaria in patients with fever;
- a test for active TB in HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients;
- a test for syphilis in pregnant women;
- a test for gonorrhea and chlamydia in high-risk women;
- a test for bacterial acute lower respiratory illness (ALRI) among patients presenting with acute respiratory illness
The research is intended to:
- Estimate consumer willingness to use and pay for the included diagnostics and examine the factors that influence willingness to use and pay.
- Examine the extent to which health care providers and program managers see these diagnostics as priorities within their own countries.
- Develop 4 case studies examining the introduction of new diagnostics to illustrate the issues that might need to be taken into consideration in planning future introduction of new diagnostics.
Geographic Focus
Benin, India, Peru, and Tanzania
For more information
Please contact Dr. Steven Harvey, CHS’ Principal Investigator, at sharvey@urc-chs.com.
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