M. Sagmeister et al., COST-BENEFIT-ANALYSIS OF SCREENING FOR CO NGENITAL TOXOPLASMOSIS, Schweizerische medizinische Wochenschrift, 125(8), 1995, pp. 103-112
A comprehensive cost-benefit analysis of possible screening strategies
for congenital toxoplasmosis is necessary as a basis for the decision
whether or not screening is efficient and socially desirable. The tot
al costs of the disease in Switzerland were calculated for the year 19
90. Direct costs (all diagnostic and therapeutic interventions, includ
ing care of handicapped children) and indirect costs (partial and tota
l work losses in the future) were taken into account. Today, the direc
t costs amount to approx. SFr. 20 mio per year (i.e. approx. SFr. 2.8
mio per million population). The indirect costs were calculated at SFr
. 4 mio per year. Moreover, the costs incurred with three possible scr
eening programs (1 test with all pregnant women, with 1, 2 or 5 additi
onal tests, depending on the strategy) were estimated, together with t
he concomitant cost savings. The financial resources needed for the sc
reenings would amount to SFr. 7 mio-18 mio per year, depending on the
strategy chosen. However, the possible savings would be in the range o
f SFr. 4 mio-12 mio only. The possible savings are, in any case, of th
e same order of magnitude as the costs for screening. Screening would
become cost-efficient if costs for the serological tests could be lowe
red.