Socioeconomic aspects of neglected tropical diseases

SummaryAlthough many examples of highly cost-effective interventions to control neglected tropical diseases exist, our understanding of the full economic effect that these diseases have on individuals, households, and nations needs to be improved to target interventions more effectively and equitably. We review data for the effect of neglected tropical diseases on a population's health and economy. We also present evidence on the costs, cost-effectiveness, and financing of strategies to monitor, control, or reduce morbidity and mortality associated with these diseases. We explore the potential for economies of scale and scope in terms of the costs and benefits of successfully delivering large-scale and integrated interventions. The low cost of neglected tropical disease control is driven by four factors: the commitment of pharmaceutical companies to provide free drugs; the scale of programmes; the opportunities for synergising delivery modes; and the often non-remunerated volunteer contribution of communities and teachers in drug distribution. Finally, we make suggestions for future economic research.