SOCIETAL VALUE OF INNOVATIVE TREATMENT FOR DIABETIC MACULAR EDEMA IN ALGERIA
Author(s)
Soumia Amied, Jr., PharmD1, Sara Kestali, Jr., PharmD1, Asrar DERRADJI, MSc, PharmD2, Islam. Anan, PharmD3, Malina Müller, BA, MA, PhD4, Mohamed Yacine Achouri, Sr., PharmD, PhD5.
1Pharmacy, University of Health sciences, Algiers, Algeria, 2F. Hoffman-La Roche Ltd, Algiers, Algeria, 3Kantar Health, Cairo, Egypt, 4WifOR Institute, Darmstadt, Germany, 5Pharmacy, University of Health sciences, Ben Aknoun, Algeria.
1Pharmacy, University of Health sciences, Algiers, Algeria, 2F. Hoffman-La Roche Ltd, Algiers, Algeria, 3Kantar Health, Cairo, Egypt, 4WifOR Institute, Darmstadt, Germany, 5Pharmacy, University of Health sciences, Ben Aknoun, Algeria.
OBJECTIVES: To quantify the national and per-patient socioeconomic burden of diabetic macular edema (DME) in Algeria and estimate the social value of innovative treatment, providing an evidence base for health technology assessment.
METHODS: A prevalence-based cost-of-illness (COI) model was developed using IDF epidemiological data and real-world clinical inputs from the Etablissement Hospitalier Ophtalmologique (EHO) of Bechar and Centres Hospitalo-Universitaires (CHUs) of Constantine and CHU Nefissa Hamoud Algiers. Patients were stratified by laterality and disease severity. Direct and indirect costs were estimated at national and per-patient levels. A multi-component social value model was applied across four cost domains: informal caregiver time, paid direct medical costs, productivity losses, and induced economic effects. Social value was expressed per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained through innovative treatment.
RESULTS: The model identified 191,583 diagnosed DME patients in Algeria, with predominantly moderate-to-severe disease (56.0% moderate; 37.3% severe). National annual direct medical costs totaled DZD 78.3 billion (USD 585.5 million; USD 3,056 per patient), driven by pharmacological treatment (61.0%) and ophthalmic procedures (31.3%). Absenteeism-related indirect costs reached DZD 206.1 million (USD 1.5 million). Per-patient total socioeconomic burden was USD 161, with informal caregiving as the dominant cost driver (USD 105; 65%), followed by paid direct costs (USD 36; 22%), productivity losses (USD 14; 9%), and induced economic effects (USD 6; 4%). Innovative treatment generated a social value of USD 20,709 per QALY gained.
CONCLUSIONS: DME imposes substantial multidimensional socioeconomic burden in Algeria, driven by a large diagnosed population with predominantly moderate-to-severe disease. The social value per QALY of innovative therapy substantially exceeds per-patient direct costs, reinforcing the case for expanded access to innovative ophthalmic treatments and their integration into health technology assessment frameworks.
METHODS: A prevalence-based cost-of-illness (COI) model was developed using IDF epidemiological data and real-world clinical inputs from the Etablissement Hospitalier Ophtalmologique (EHO) of Bechar and Centres Hospitalo-Universitaires (CHUs) of Constantine and CHU Nefissa Hamoud Algiers. Patients were stratified by laterality and disease severity. Direct and indirect costs were estimated at national and per-patient levels. A multi-component social value model was applied across four cost domains: informal caregiver time, paid direct medical costs, productivity losses, and induced economic effects. Social value was expressed per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained through innovative treatment.
RESULTS: The model identified 191,583 diagnosed DME patients in Algeria, with predominantly moderate-to-severe disease (56.0% moderate; 37.3% severe). National annual direct medical costs totaled DZD 78.3 billion (USD 585.5 million; USD 3,056 per patient), driven by pharmacological treatment (61.0%) and ophthalmic procedures (31.3%). Absenteeism-related indirect costs reached DZD 206.1 million (USD 1.5 million). Per-patient total socioeconomic burden was USD 161, with informal caregiving as the dominant cost driver (USD 105; 65%), followed by paid direct costs (USD 36; 22%), productivity losses (USD 14; 9%), and induced economic effects (USD 6; 4%). Innovative treatment generated a social value of USD 20,709 per QALY gained.
CONCLUSIONS: DME imposes substantial multidimensional socioeconomic burden in Algeria, driven by a large diagnosed population with predominantly moderate-to-severe disease. The social value per QALY of innovative therapy substantially exceeds per-patient direct costs, reinforcing the case for expanded access to innovative ophthalmic treatments and their integration into health technology assessment frameworks.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-11, ISPOR Europe 2026, Vienna, Austria
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue 12S
Code
EE264
Topic
Clinical Outcomes, Economic Evaluation, Epidemiology & Public Health
Topic Subcategory
Cost/Cost of Illness/Resource Use Studies
Disease
Diabetes/Endocrine/Metabolic Disorders (including obesity), Sensory System Disorders (Ear, Eye, Dental, Skin)