Analytical approach:
The analysis was based on a decision model that considered the scale-up period for the RNTCP, which was from 1997 to 2006. The authors stated that a societal perspective was adopted.
Effectiveness data:
The case fatality rates (CFRs) were a key input for the model. For the RNTCP, these were from DOTS databases. For the control intervention, they were from a published systematic review of the literature. These sources provided the difference in CFRs with DOTS versus without DOTS. Other data were from the World Health Organization (WHO).
Monetary benefit and utility valuations:
The disability weights for TB morbidity were from a published study of the South-East Asian population.
Measure of benefit:
: For the cost-utility analysis, disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) were the summary benefit measure and they were discounted at an annual rate of 3%. For the cost-benefit analysis, the economic benefit of TB control was measured by the value of a statistical life, which was based on an estimate published by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) for 1999. This US estimate was adapted to India for 2006, using a comparison of their gross domestic products and India's per capita growth from 1999 to 2006.
Cost data:
The economic analysis included the health services associated with the diagnosis and treatment of disease, such as clinic visits and hospitalisations. The resource use and cost data were from national databases that reported on the implementation of the programme. All costs were in US dollars ($).
Analysis of uncertainty:
Sensitivity analyses were carried out to examine how robust the base-case findings were to variations in the CFRs, disease duration, and value of a statistical life.