Cost-effectiveness of antivenoms for snakebite envenoming in 16 countries in West Africa

Abstract

Snakebite poisoning is a significant medical problem in Sub-Saharan Africa, and antivenom (AV) is the standard treatment. This study assessed the cost-effectiveness of making AV available in 16 West African countries, using a decision-tree model from a public payer perspective. The model considered the costs of confirming and evaluating envenomation, AV acquisition, routine care, AV transportation logistics, hospital admission, and management of AV adverse reactions compared to the alternative of free snakebite care with ineffective or no AV. The study found that the cost per death averted ranged from $1,997 to $6,205, and the cost per Disability-Adjusted-Life-Years (DALY) averted ranged from $83 to $281, all below the commonly accepted threshold of one time per capita GDP. These results indicate that AV is highly cost-effective for treating snakebite in West Africa. Probabilistic sensitivity analyses confirmed the high degree of confidence in these findings, suggesting that broadening access to effective AVs in rural communities is a priority.