Cost-benefit analysis of pharmaceutical treatments of infertility using willingness to pay approach

Introdution: Due to the high prevalence of infertility in Iran and the high costs of infertility treatments, analysis the economic issues of this scope seems important. The aim of this study was to present the scientific evidence of the community valuation for infertility pharmaceutical treatments and precise costing of these treatments using economic analysis. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional study of cost-benefit one of the economic evaluation of the health interventions studies. The per capita cost of one cycle of infertility pharmaceutical treatments was calculated based on the treatment protocols and prescriptions of physicians. Measuring the willingness to pay people was done using a contingent valuation method (CVM) using a researcher-made questionnaire in Kerman. Results: Per capita cost per cycle of infertility pharmaceutical treatments was estimated at 6689640 Rls. The willingness to pay for these treatments was also 13198125 Rls per treatment cycle. Based on the cost and outcome, the calculated net present value (NPV) and the benefit cost ratio (BCR) were 6508485 Rls and 1.97, respectively. Conclusion: According to the results of the study, the valuation of individuals for infertility pharmaceutical treatments is about twice the cost of one cycle of these treatments, which suggests that investment for this level of treatments has a positive net benefit. Therefore, it is required that policy-makers pay more attention to the issue of scientific financing of infertility in the current period that we require population growth in Iran