Challenges of assessing the cost effectiveness of AMR campaigns: Considerations for policy makers

Abstract

Objectives

To provide overview and understanding of the current challenges in assessing the cost-effectiveness of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) campaigns and highlight the main considerations for policy makers when evaluating existing and future evidence to inform decision making.

Study design

Policy commentary.

Methods

A rapid review of cost-effectiveness analyses evaluating public AMR campaigns highlighted significant challenges with existing methodologies which were reviewed extensively in further literature searches to inform overview and commentary.

Results

Longstanding challenges in measuring clinical outcomes for use in economic evaluations and the methodologies available to health economists to evaluate public health campaigns were identified: Identifying and measuring appropriate outcomes, including broader societal impacts, capturing relevant outcomes which result over longer timescales, and accounting for the costs of AMR. These remain significant obstacles in assessing the true cost-effectiveness of interventions.

Conclusions

Little methodological progress has been made in this area over the past 20 years, leaving policy makers in a difficult conundrum when justifying future investment in public campaigns to combat AMR. Evidence of high societal value placed on such interventions suggests future work to establish the cost-effectiveness of public AMR campaigns and support policy making are essential.