Rationale and opportunities in estimating the economic burden of seasonal influenza across countries using a standardized WHO tool and manual. Issue 1 (16th November 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chaiyakunapruk, Nathorn; Kotirum, Surachai; Newall, Anthony T.; Lambach, Philipp; Hutubessy, Raymond C. W.
• Other Names: Lee Vernon guestEditor.
• Is Part Of: Influenza and other respiratory viruses. Volume 12:Issue 1(2018)
• Page Start: 13
• Page End: 21
• Publication Date: 2017-11-16
• Subjects: cost of illness -- economic burden -- estimation -- manual -- seasonal influenza; Influenza -- Periodicals; Respiratory infections -- Periodicals; Virus diseases -- Periodicals; Influenza, Human -- Periodicals; Respiratory Tract Diseases -- Periodicals; Virus Diseases -- Periodicals; Grippe -- Périodiques; Appareil respiratoire -- Infections -- Périodiques; Maladies à virus -- Périodiques; 616.203
• DOI: 10.1111/irv.12491
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1750-2640

Abstract

Abstract : Influenza disease burden is recognized as one of the major public health problems globally. Much less is known about the economic burden of influenza especially in low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs). A recent systematic review on the economic burden of influenza in LMICs suggests that information is scarce and/or incomplete and that there is a lack of standardized approaches for cost evaluations in LMICs. WHO commissioned and publicized a Manual for estimating the economic burden of seasonal influenza to support the standardization of estimates of the economic burden of seasonal influenza across countries. This article aims to describe the rationale of this manual development and opportunities that lie in collecting data to help policymakers estimate the economic burden of seasonal influenza. It describes a manual developed by WHO to help such estimation and also links to relevant literature and tools to ensure robustness of applied methods to assess the economic burden associated with seasonal influenza, including direct medical costs, direct non‐medical costs and indirect costs.