Return on Investment from the Prevention of Spinal Muscular Atrophy in Kuwait

Background : Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a rare genetic disease with a devastating nature and associated with significant clinical and economic burden. Fortunately, the availability of genetic screening and prevention technologies made preventive strategy possible. The aim of this study is to assess the return on investment from a prevention program that includes premarital genetic screening, preimplantation genetic diagnosis, and in vitro fertilization pertaining to SMA, spanning five-year period from the financial perspective of the Ministry of Health (MOH) in Kuwait. Methods : A stochastic financial model was developed following a return on investment (ROI) approach spanning five-year period. Results : An average ROI estimated to be 11% with cost saving amounted to 466,159 KWD (1,524,339 USD). The financial burden if the prevention program was not implemented is 16,441,539 KWD (53,763,832 USD). Conclusion : This study is one of the very few in the region to estimate the benefits of implementing a prevention program pertaining to SMA from the financial perspective of the MOH in Kuwait.