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Abstract

The purpose of the study was to determine the clinical and economic impact of alternative contraceptive methods to be used by women in Palestine. Effectiveness of the various tested methods was obtained from literature survey. Direct medical costs (medical consultation and drug costs) per user per day of use associated with six modern contraceptive methods were modeled from the perspectives of the Palestinian customer. Cost data were drawn from community pharmacies price list dated August 2002. Cost-effectiveness analysis shows that the most cost-effective (C/E) methods were intrauterine device (IUD) and injectable Depo-Provera® while the least cost-effective methods were the progestin only and combined oral contraceptive pills. The pharmaco-economic analysis of the data shows that over one year of use per 1000 patients, the IUD method makes 35,000 USD of savings compared to progestin only pills (POP) and 19,000 USD of savings compared to combined oral contraceptive pills (COC). This pharmaco-economic evaluations of the available fertility modulating methods and devices should assist the Palestinian married women and health professionals in rational selection of contraceptive method.