The purpose of the study was to determine the clinical and economic impact of

alternative contraceptive methods to be used by women in Palestine. Effectiveness of

the various tested methods was obtained from literature survey. Direct medical costs

(medical consultation and drug costs) per user per day of use associated with six modern

contraceptive methods were modeled from the perspectives of the Palestinian customer.

Cost data were drawn from community pharmacies price list dated August 2002. Costeffectiveness

analysis shows that the most cost-effective (C/E) methods were

intrauterine device (IUD) and injectable Depo-Provera® while the least cost-effective

methods were the progestin only and combined oral contraceptive pills. The pharmacoeconomic

analysis of the data shows that over one year of use per 1000 patients, the

IUD method makes 35,000 USD of savings compared to progestin only pills (POP) and

19,000 USD of savings compared to combined oral contraceptive pills (COC). This

pharmaco-economic evaluations of the available fertility modulating methods and

devices should assist the Palestinian married women and health professionals in rational

selection of contraceptive method.

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