Budget Impact Analysis of Intravitreal Injections Used to Treat Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration and Diabetic Macular Edema in the Dubai Healthcare System

Abstract

Objectives

With the rising prevalence of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) and diabetic macular edema (DME), this study assesses the budget impact of current intravitreal injections (faricimab, brolucizumab, ranibizumab, and aflibercept) on Dubai’s private sector. The aim is to identify the most cost-effective intervention by evaluating utilization costs based on injection frequencies and direct acquisition expenses.

Methods

An Excel-based budget impact model, aligned with the current standard of care, incorporates direct medical costs only, acquisition prices of the 4 interventions, procedure costs, optical coherence tomography diagnosis and consultation visit costs, and average administration costs in Dubai’s healthcare system. Local experts’ opinions shape the clinical approach and costs. The model spans a 5-year horizon, considering a complete replacement or gradual increase in faricimab uptake. One-way sensitivity analysis ensures outcome robustness.

Results

The model, based on an estimated prevalence of 722 nAMD patients and 14 885 DME patients, projects faricimab’s growing market share yielding estimated total savings of 402 908 275 Arab Emirates Dirham over 5 years compared with current market shares. The savings stem from faricimab’s lower injection frequency and acquisition cost in managing DME and nAMD in Dubai’s healthcare system.

Conclusions

Increasing faricimab uptake promises substantial budget savings. Decision makers in Ophthalmology Care in the United Arab Emirates can efficiently allocate resources by endorsing faricimab as the primary treatment for nAMD and DME based on these findings.