The economics of parasitic diseases: Research priorities

Parasitic diseases are primarily diseases of poverty. At serious risk are individuals, communities and countries least able to afford the costs of treatment of prevention. In turn, economic development projects which aim to increase income levels may lead to negative results because of increased transmission of parasitic diseases often results. In attempting to analyse the economic consequences of parasitic diseases and the economics of their control, economists have usually relied on the tools of cost-benefit analysis, cost-effectiveness analysis and financial analysis. These efforts are briefly reviewed in the paper. The results have been subject to considerable criticism because of conceptual and methodological problems. For example, most studies have not taken into account the epidemiology and natural history of the disease in estimating the associated economic losses, thereby leading to inappropriate conclusions. The UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases through its Social and Economic Research Scientific Working Group (SER-SWG) is promoting research on the economics of parasitic diseases. In an attempt to improve the usefulness and reliability of such studies, conceptual and methodological approaches have been suggested which are reported on here. To improve the research design of these projects, a conceptual framework is proposed which consists of four components: (1) baseline social, cultural and economic conditions influencing disease transmission; (2) resources already invested in the health system and investments in other related sectors such as agriculture, housing, water supply and sanitation; (3) health consequences resulting from (1) and (2); and (4) social and economic consequences resulting from (3). A key concern in relation to the framework is to determine the most useful basis for linking results from studies of one component to another so as to analyse more systematically the impacts of disease on individuals and society. Such studies are inherently interdisciplinary and close collaboration of economists with medical scientists and disease control programme staff is needed to ensure completeness and reliability of input data and results. Results from these studies could be used to inform national decision-makers about the social and economic consequences of the parasitic diseases and their control and, thus, should strengthen support for increased investment to reduce the parasitic disease burden in developing countries.