Evidence mapPaperPMID 40221639Full record

SynthesisApplied health economics and health policy2025

Decision-Analytical Modelling of Medicines in the Middle East: A Systematic Review of Economic Evaluation Studies.

Zainab Abdali, Tuba Saygın Avşar, Sue Jowett, Muslim Syed, Khalifa Elmusharaf, Louise Jackson

Abstract readSystematic Review
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Synthesis in Applied health economics and health policy, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Zainab AbdaliHealth Economics Unit, Department of Applied Health Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston Park Road, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK. z.abdali@bham.ac.uk.ORCID 0000-0002-2736-5427
Tuba Saygın AvşarDepartment of Applied Health Research, University College London, London, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-4143-3852
Sue JowettHealth Economics Unit, Department of Applied Health Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston Park Road, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.ORCID 0000-0001-8936-3745
Muslim SyedClinical Research Department, Primary Health Care Corporation, Doha, Qatar.ORCID 0000-0003-4372-1935
Khalifa ElmusharafPublic Health Programme, Department of Applied Health Sciences, University of Birmingham Dubai, Dubai, UAE.ORCID 0000-0001-8652-1867
Louise JacksonHealth Economics Unit, Department of Applied Health Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston Park Road, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.ORCID 0000-0001-8492-0020

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundEconomic evaluations through decision-analytical models have played a limited role in shaping healthcare resource optimisation and reimbursement decisions in the Middle East.

objectiveThis review aims to systematically examine economic evaluation studies focusing on decision-analytical models of medicines in the Middle East, defining methodological characteristics and appraising the quality of the identified models.

methodsA systematic review approach was employed to identify published decision-analytical models of medicines in the Middle East. Six databases were searched (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Econlit, Web of Science, Global Health Cost-Effectiveness Analysis Registry and the Global Index Medicus) from 1998 to July 2024. Studies meeting the inclusion criteria-full economic evaluations of medicines using decision-analytical models in the Middle East-were considered. Data were extracted and tabulated to include study characteristics and methodological specifications, and data were narratively analysed. The Philips checklist was used to assess the quality of studies.

resultsSixty-three decision-analytical modelling studies of medicines were identified and reviewed, from eight Middle Eastern countries, with the majority (90%) conducted in Iran, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Egypt. The cost-effectiveness of medications for non-communicable diseases was explored in 77% of the models. Gross domestic product-based cost-effectiveness thresholds were commonly used, and international sources provided data on intervention effectiveness and health outcomes, while national sources were mainly used for the costs of resource use. Most models incorporated an assessment of parameter uncertainty, whereas other types of uncertainty were not explored. Studies from high-income countries were generally of higher quality than those from middle-income countries.

conclusionsThe number of published decision-analytical models in the Middle East was low, considering the available medicinal products and disease burden. Key elements related to the quality of decision-analytical models, including analysis of the model structure, appropriateness of model inputs and uncertainty assessment, were not consistently fulfilled. Recommendations are provided to enhance the quality of future economic evaluation studies. This includes strengthening the existing health economics capacities, establishing country-specific health technology assessment systems (where possible), and initiating collaborations to generate national cost and outcome data. PROSPERO registration: CRD42021283904.

Indexed as

Decision Support TechniquesCost-Benefit AnalysisHumansMiddle EastModels, Economic

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.