Economic Evaluation of Carbetocin as Prophylaxis for Postpartum Hemorrhage in the Philippines

Abstract Background: Cost-effectiveness and budget impact of carbetocin was evaluated as an alternative to oxytocin for postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) prophylaxis in the Philippines.Methods: A model-based economic evaluation was employed to assess cost-effectiveness of carbetocin compared to oxytocin for PPH. Population of interest were women undergoing either vaginal delivery (VD) or cesarean section (CS) in a public hospital setting with costs and outcomes evaluated in six weeks. Cost-utility was analyzed using a government and societal perspectives while the budget impact was determined using a third party payer’s perspective. Incremental Cost Effectiveness Ratio (ICER) was evaluated using the set threshold in the country of 150,000 PhP per QALY gained.Results: Carbetocin was not cost-effective in the Philippines. Deterministic results in a government perspective for CS was at 724,081 PhP while for VD was over 2 million PhP. Deterministic and probabilistic results in the societal perspective for CS and VD were near these respective ICER values and did not also favor carbetocin use. Moreover, the treatment effects of carbetocin in reference to oxytocin were identified as the most sensitive parameter used. On budget impact, if 50% of deliveries would switch to carbetocin for the fiscal years assessed, additional incremental cumulative costs of 1.08 billion PhP for VD and 1.86 billion PhP for CS would be needed.Conclusion: The incremental benefit of carbetocin does not justify the additional costs incurred from purchasing the drug given a Philippine context. Price reduction of carbetocin is recommended if the drug would be publicly reimbursed in the country.