The cost-effectiveness of Hepatitis C treatments in Ireland : a multi-technology assessment

Abstract

Introduction Chronic Hepatitis C (HCV) is an important public health concern with an estimated 20,000 to 50,000 people infected in Ireland. Horizon scanning at the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics in 2011 identified that HCV therapeutics was likely to have a high budget impact in the coming decade. HCV treatment with pegylated interferon and ribavirin has never been assessed for cost effectiveness in the Irish setting. It was proposed to undertake a research programme to address the deficits in the knowledge base in this area, with a view to undertaking a cost-utility analysis of HCV treatment in Ireland. Methods To establish national estimates of the number of patients treated for HCV in the past decade, the Primary Care Reimbursement Services dataset was interrogated for co prescriptions of pegylated interferon and ribavirin. The cost of these prescriptions was established by applying the drug acquisition costs of the medications to the Health Service Executive (HSE). A micro-costing study was undertaken to establish the cost of ambulatory and inpatient care for patients with different degrees of liver impairment. They were categorised according to pre-specified criteria which correlated with clinical stages of disease progression.