Invest Now or Lose: Financial Implications of MS Treatment in Albania

OBJECTIVES: To compare the economic impact of multiple sclerosis (MS) treatment versus non-treatment from the perspective of Albanian payers and assessing the Return on Investment (ROI).

METHODS: Average annual treatment costs per MS patient and losses from non-treatment were calculated. Costs for treating all diagnosed MS patients in Albania were also determined, along with potential indirect losses for untreated patients. ROI was calculated by dividing the expected financial gains (net benefits) by the total costs. Data from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), hospital budgets, demographic information on MS patients, treatment percentages, and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) data from 2023 were utilized for this analysis, with costs denoted in euros.

RESULTS: In 2023, 145 (15,71%) of the 923 reported MS patients in Albania received active treatment, while 778 (84,29%) did not. The total DMTs costs in Albania for 2023 were €1 410 192,37. The average annual treatment cost per patient is €9 725,46. The average annual loss for an untreated MS patient, unable to work, is €14 680,46. If all MS patients in Albania were treated, the estimated total annual treatment cost would be €8 976 603,84. The total annual loss due to MS-related work incapacity amounts to €11 230 551,90 for the 778 patients currently untreated. The losses from not treating 778 patients exceed the costs of treatment for all MS patients in Albania. The return on investment (ROI) for treating one patient was calculated at 50,95%, indicating that for every euro invested in MS treatment, the return is approximately 50,95%.

CONCLUSIONS: Investing in MS treatment in Albania not only enhances patient outcomes and reduces the economic burden of untreated MS, but also underscores its significant ROI and financial viability.