Costs, Benefits, and Effectiveness of Interventions for the Prevention, Treatment, and Control of Cardiovascular Diseases and Diabetes in Africa

Abstract

If a combination of cost-effective health-care interventions and population-wide prevention interventions is implemented in a sustainable manner, a significant impact can be made on the cardiovascular disease and diabetes burden. Given the limited resources, weak health systems and competing health issues in Africa, the focus should be on interventions prioritized on the basis not only of cost effectiveness but also of affordability, feasibility and high impact. The Global Action Plan for prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases 2013–2020 identifies such a core set. Financing the effective delivery of this core set as part of the basic health care package through a strengthened health system is a pragmatic approach to address cardiovascular disease and diabetes in Africa. Cost of implementation of this core set of interventions represents an annual investment of under US$ 1 in low income countries, US$ 1.50 in lower middle income countries and US$ 3 in upper middle income countries.