@article{fdi:010088201,
  title = {{E}stimating health care costs at scale in low- and middle-income countries : mathematical notations and frameworks for the application of cost functions},
  author = {d'{E}lbee, {M}. and {T}erris-{P}restholt, {F}. and {B}riggs, {A}. and {G}riffiths, {U}. {K}. and {L}armarange, {J}oseph and {M}edley, {G}. {F}. and {G}omez, {G}. {B}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{A}ppropriate costing and economic modeling are major factors for the successful scale-up of health interventions. {V}arious cost functions are currently being used to estimate costs of health interventions at scale in low- and middle-income countries ({LMIC}s) potentially resulting in disparate cost projections. {T}he aim of this study is to gain understanding of current methods used and provide guidance to inform the use of cost functions that is fit for purpose. {W}e reviewed seven databases covering the economic and global health literature to identify studies reporting a quantitative analysis of costs informing the projected scale-up of a health intervention in {LMIC}s between 2003 and 2019. {O}f the 8725 articles identified, 40 met the inclusion criteria. {W}e classified studies according to the type of cost functions applied-accounting or econometric-and described the intended use of cost projections. {B}ased on these findings, we developed new mathematical notations and cost function frameworks for the analysis of healthcare costs at scale in {LMIC}s setting. {T}hese notations estimate variable returns to scale in cost projection methods, which is currently ignored in most studies. {T}he frameworks help to balance simplicity versus accuracy and increase the overall transparency in reporting of methods.},
  keywords = {cost functions ; econometrics ; health economics ; low- and middle-income countries ; microeconomics ; production costs ; {PAYS} {EN} {DEVELOPPEMENT}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{H}ealth {E}conomics},
  volume = {[{E}arly access]},
  numero = {},
  pages = {[18 p.]},
  ISSN = {1057-9230},
  year = {2023},
  DOI = {10.1002/hec.4722},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010088201},
}