SOCIETAL ECONOMIC IMPACT AND TREATMENT VALUE OF VISION-THREATENING RETINAL DISEASES : A HUMAN CAPITAL AND INPUT-OUTPUT ANALYSIS FOR NEOVASCULAR AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION AND DIABETIC MACULAR EDEMA
Author(s)
Omar Maoujoud, PhD, MD1, sanaa haouraji, Msc2;
1Research team of Pharmacoeconomics & Pharmacoepidemiology, Moroccan Society of health economics (SMEPS), Faculty of Medicine, Mohamed V university, Rabat, Morocco, 2EOS Executive Lab, Casablanca, Morocco
1Research team of Pharmacoeconomics & Pharmacoepidemiology, Moroccan Society of health economics (SMEPS), Faculty of Medicine, Mohamed V university, Rabat, Morocco, 2EOS Executive Lab, Casablanca, Morocco
OBJECTIVES: Neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) and diabetic macular edema (DME) constitute leading causes of irreversible vision loss with substantial macroeconomic consequences. This study aimed to quantify the societal economic value of anti-VEGF therapy for vision-threatening retinal diseases in Morocco from a societal perspective
METHODS: A social impact model was constructed integrating the Human Capital Approach with Leontief Input-Output framework, following ISPOR Good Practices for Measuring Indirect Costs. Epidemiological inputs derived from IDF Diabetes Atlas 2024 and WHO Global Vision Database: DME prevalence 90,000-210,000 (center-involving: 60,000-150,000); nAMD prevalence 6,000-8,500 (treatment-eligible: 5,000-7,000). Health state utilities sourced from published EQ-5D valuations: DME baseline 0.75, annual untreated decline -0.03; nAMD baseline 0.70, annual untreated decline -0.05. Productivity parameters extracted from Morocco High Commission for Planning: gross value added $12.20/hour (formal sector $18; informal $8); labor force participation rate 45%. QALY-to-productivity conversion factor: 0.45 working-years/QALY. Leontief multipliers calibrated to Moroccan inter-industry structure: direct 1.0x, indirect 0.5x, induced 0.375x (cumulative 1.875x). Outcomes included per-patient annual value, aggregate societal impact, and unrealized economic potential.
RESULTS: Combined treatment-eligible population: 65,000-157,000 patients. Per-patient annual societal value: $2,204 (DME) and $1,251 (nAMD). Five-year incremental QALYs with treatment: 0.15 (DME) and 0.20 (nAMD) per patient. At full coverage, annual societal value totaled $405.6 million comprising direct productivity gains ($216.3M), indirect economic effects ($108.2M), and induced consumption ($81.1M). Five-year net present value: $1.86 billion (3% discount rate). Current treatment gap: 91% (10,000/111,000 eligible patients). Annual unrealized value: $369 million attributable to financial barriers ($162M; 38% uninsured), geographic disparity ($101M; 29-fold urban-rural inequality), and capacity constraints ($81M; 85-90% injection gap).
CONCLUSIONS: Anti-VEGF treatment for retinal diseases generates societal returns of 1.875x investment through preserved human capital and economic multiplier effects. Morocco currently captures only 9% of potential societal value, representing a substantial economic case for expanded treatment access and innovative coverage mechanisms.
METHODS: A social impact model was constructed integrating the Human Capital Approach with Leontief Input-Output framework, following ISPOR Good Practices for Measuring Indirect Costs. Epidemiological inputs derived from IDF Diabetes Atlas 2024 and WHO Global Vision Database: DME prevalence 90,000-210,000 (center-involving: 60,000-150,000); nAMD prevalence 6,000-8,500 (treatment-eligible: 5,000-7,000). Health state utilities sourced from published EQ-5D valuations: DME baseline 0.75, annual untreated decline -0.03; nAMD baseline 0.70, annual untreated decline -0.05. Productivity parameters extracted from Morocco High Commission for Planning: gross value added $12.20/hour (formal sector $18; informal $8); labor force participation rate 45%. QALY-to-productivity conversion factor: 0.45 working-years/QALY. Leontief multipliers calibrated to Moroccan inter-industry structure: direct 1.0x, indirect 0.5x, induced 0.375x (cumulative 1.875x). Outcomes included per-patient annual value, aggregate societal impact, and unrealized economic potential.
RESULTS: Combined treatment-eligible population: 65,000-157,000 patients. Per-patient annual societal value: $2,204 (DME) and $1,251 (nAMD). Five-year incremental QALYs with treatment: 0.15 (DME) and 0.20 (nAMD) per patient. At full coverage, annual societal value totaled $405.6 million comprising direct productivity gains ($216.3M), indirect economic effects ($108.2M), and induced consumption ($81.1M). Five-year net present value: $1.86 billion (3% discount rate). Current treatment gap: 91% (10,000/111,000 eligible patients). Annual unrealized value: $369 million attributable to financial barriers ($162M; 38% uninsured), geographic disparity ($101M; 29-fold urban-rural inequality), and capacity constraints ($81M; 85-90% injection gap).
CONCLUSIONS: Anti-VEGF treatment for retinal diseases generates societal returns of 1.875x investment through preserved human capital and economic multiplier effects. Morocco currently captures only 9% of potential societal value, representing a substantial economic case for expanded treatment access and innovative coverage mechanisms.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-05, ISPOR 2026, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue S6
Code
EE289
Topic
Economic Evaluation
Topic Subcategory
Novel & Social Elements of Value, Value of Information, Work & Home Productivity - Indirect Costs
Disease
SDC: Diabetes/Endocrine/Metabolic Disorders (including obesity), SDC: Sensory System Disorders (Ear, Eye, Dental, Skin)