Potential cost and benefits of integrating health care services for managing multiple chronic conditions in sub-Saharan Africa: A critical short review and commentary

Abstract

Sub-Saharan Africa is currently having a dual burden of HIV and Non-communicable diseases. HIV is regarded as a chronic condition regardless of HIV being infectious, due to the absence of a cure. However, these patients have achieved a substantial increase in survival after receiving Antiretroviral Therapy (ART). An increase in survival puts HIV patients at risk of developing Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD). Integration of health services for chronic diseases has been one of the suggested measures to be considered and recently, a scientist has invested to conduct research in this area to see if it can help to improve the quality of health care services particularly in resource-limited countries. Most of the published work has found that; the integration of health services for chronic diseases into a single clinic is potentially cost-effective and has benefits. This approach could be used to minimize cost and help improve the quality of life and increase life expectancy among HIV-infected individuals. However, these findings need further evidence because some of the published data were obtained from weak study designs, and those regarded as strong were designed as pilots.