VN016 - To generate evidence on cost-effectiveness and budget impacts of HIV PrEP, HBV and HCV screening, supporting SHI reimbursement policy development and assessment in Viet Nam.

Background:

Viet Nam has made significant progress in the prevention and control of HIV, hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections. However, these diseases continue to impose substantial public health and economic burdens, particularly among key and vulnerable populations.

HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a highly effective intervention for preventing HIV infection and is an essential component of the national HIV prevention strategy. To date, PrEP services have been largely supported by international donors, particularly the Global Fund. As the Global Fund will be ended by 2029, sustainable domestic financing mechanisms are needed to ensure continuity and scale-up of PrEP services.

In addition, HBV and HCV screening are required for PrEP services and they are also critical entry points for timely diagnosis, linkage to care, and prevention of disease progression. Early detection and treatment can significantly reduce morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs associated with liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Currently, Social Health Insurance (SHI) reimbursement for HBV and HCV testing is generally limited to diagnostic testing following clinical indication or positive screening results. Preventive and routine screening services are not comprehensively covered, creating potential barriers to early diagnosis and treatment.

As the Government of Viet Nam explores policy options to expand SHI coverage for highimpact prevention and screening interventions, robust evidence is needed to assess the value for money and financial implications of reimbursement. A systematic review of international and national evidence on cost-effectiveness and budget impact will provide critical information for policy makers in evaluating the feasibility, affordability, and potential health benefits of including PrEP, HBV screening, and HCV screening within the SHI benefit package.

Objectives
− To systematically review published and unpublished evidence on the costeffectiveness of HIV PrEP services; HBV screening and HCV screening interventions.
− To conduct budget impact analysis of introducing health insurance reimbursement for HIV PrEP, services; HBV screening; and HCV screening.
− To provide policy recommendations and evidence gaps for future economic evaluations and SHI policy considerations.
Interested institution can submit a detailed systematic review protocol including define review questions, inclusion and exclusion criteria, search strategy, and analytical framework.

Full proposal with estimation of costs, description of technical team, and supporting documents should be received on/or 13 October 2026 and should be addressed to: wpvnmuhc@who.int

For further information on this TOR, please contact: wpvnmuhc@who.int