We found that substantial evidence exists for achieving cost savings and efficiency improvements from task shifting activities related to tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS , and additional evidence exists for the potential to achieve cost savings from activities related to malaria , NCDs , NTDs , childhood illness , and other disease areas , especially at the primary health care and community levels .
Conclusions Task shifting presents a viable option for health system cost savings in LMICs .
Background Task shifting has become an increasingly popular way to increase access to health services , especially in low-re source setting s. Research has demonstrated that task shifting , including the use of community health workers ( CHWs ) to deliver care , can improve population health .
This systematic review investigates whether task shifting in low-income and middle-income countries ( LMICs ) results in efficiency improvements by achieving cost savings .
Household Costs for Treatment of Severe Pneumonia in Pakistan
Current World Health Organization ( WHO ) guidelines for severe pneumonia treatment of under-5 children recommend hospital referral . However , high treatment cost is a major barrier for communities . We compared household costs for referred cases with management by lady health workers ( LHWs ) using oral antibiotics . This study was nested within a cluster r and omized trial in Haripur , Pakistan . Data on direct and indirect costs were collected through interviews and record review s in the 14 intervention and 14 control clusters . The average household cost/case for a LHW managed case was $ 1.46 compared with $ 7.60 for referred cases . When the cost of antibiotics provided by the LHW program was excluded from the estimates , the cost/case came to $ 0.25 and $ 7.51 for the community managed and referred cases , respectively , a 30-fold difference . Exp and ing severe pneumonia treatment with oral amoxicillin to community level could significantly reduce household costs and improve access to the underprivileged population , preventing many child deaths
We found that substantial evidence exists for achieving cost savings and efficiency improvements from task shifting activities related to tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS , and additional evidence exists for the potential to achieve cost savings from activities related to malaria , NCDs , NTDs , childhood illness , and other disease areas , especially at the primary health care and community levels .
Conclusions Task shifting presents a viable option for health system cost savings in LMICs .
Background Task shifting has become an increasingly popular way to increase access to health services , especially in low-re source setting s. Research has demonstrated that task shifting , including the use of community health workers ( CHWs ) to deliver care , can improve population health .
This systematic review investigates whether task shifting in low-income and middle-income countries ( LMICs ) results in efficiency improvements by achieving cost savings .