OBJECTIVES: Anti-scorpion serum (SAS) represents the specific treatment of scorpion envenomation (SE), which aims to manage and prevent its complications. However, the limited financial resources represent a barrier to the development of advanced therapeutic serums, particularly SAS. This study aims to provide an economic evaluation of SAS within the Algerian healthcare system, to emphasize the cost-saving of SAS against symptomatic treatment to manage SE.

METHODS: An investigation was conducted among physicians treating patients envenomed by scorpions, with the aim to define the SE therapeutic management. An Excel model was developed to estimate the costs associated with pharmaceutical treatments, laboratory tests and hospital stays. All costs used are from the public sector. The objective was to assess the economic impact of managing individuals, by comparing the costs related to envenomation management while considering the current availability and unavailability of antivenom serums.

RESULTS: In 2021, the National Institute of Public Health (NIPH) recorded a total of 44,463 scorpion sting cases, categorized into 3 classes according to case severity. According to our analysis, the utilization of SAS, lead to an estimated cost-reduction of most than 13 million USD annually. This reduction in costs is due to a decrease in the hospitalization duration, the frequency of complementary examinations as well as a reduction in the rate of progression from Class 1 to Class 3 (5.59%), and from Class 2 to Class 3 (8.74%).

CONCLUSIONS: In addition to SAS advantages with regards of SE management, the analysis highlighted that the use of this antivenom generate significant savings on envenomation-management costs. Consequently, it is essential to support and develop the investments related to SAS in order to reduce the long-term societal and economic burden associated with scorpion envenomation.