Important note: Information in this article was accurate in December 2001. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.AIDSWEEKLY Plus; Monday, December 10, 2001
Michael Greer, Senior Medical Writer
NewsRx -- A New York-based researcher says that syringe exchange programs are a cost-effective method for containing the spread of HIV infection.
Franklin N. Laufer, working with the AIDS Institute at the New York State Department of Health in Albany, conducted a study to "analyze the cost-effectiveness of New York State-approved syringe exchange programs (SEPs) and estimate the cost-saving potential of these programs."
Although relatively expensive, Laufer argues that such programs more than pay for themselves through reduced medical and drug costs.
Seven needle exchange programs provided Laufer with "cost and process" data for the most recent year available. Other published information was used to estimate the number of infections averted through these programs, he said.
The total costs incurred by all seven SEPs amounted to approximately US$1.82 million, according to Laufer's report. With an estimated 87 HIV cases prevented by these programs, each prevented infection cost roughly $20,947, study data showed.
This looked like a bargain, considering the cost of lifetime HIV treatment; $21,000 buys between one and two years of antiretroviral cocktails alone (Cost-effectiveness of syringe exchange as an HIV prevention strategy, J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2001 Nov 1;28(3):273-8.
"This research demonstrates that syringe exchange is a cost-effective and cost-saving strategy for reducing HIV transmission," Laufer concluded.
The corresponding author for this report is Franklin N. Laufer, Division of HIV Prevention, AIDS Institute, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY 12202, USA.
Key points reported in this study include
This article was prepared by AIDS Weekly editors from staff and other reports.
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