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.