Guidance toward the implementation of multicriteria decision analysis framework in developing countries

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Multiple Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) is increasingly used in health care mainly because it moves decision-making from ad hoc to an evidence-based and comprehensive process. Developing countries with more restricted financial and human research capacities, however, should consider their own methods of MCDA development and implementation.

Areas covered: An MCDA framework to improve procurement decisions of off-patent pharmaceuticals was developed for developing countries and adapted to Indonesia, Kazakhstan and Vietnam during three policy workshops. Based on the experience of these workshops and one joint workshop with international experts and decision makers from multiple developing countries, general recommendations were formulated on how to implement MCDA specifically in developing countries. We provide 17 practical MCDA implementation recommendations in four major areas, including (1) MCDA objectives; (2) technical considerations of MCDA tool; (3) development and customization of MCDA tool and (4) policy implementation of MCDA in decision-making.

Expert commentary: These practical MCDA recommendations for developing countries contribute to feasible, transparent, stepwise, iterative and standardized decision-making in health care.

KEYWORDS:

• Decision Making
• Developing Countries
• Implementation Guidance
• Multiple Criteria Decision Analysis
• Off-patent Pharmaceuticals

Declaration of Interest

A Inotai and B Németh are employees of Syreon. N Maniadakis and D Brixner received honoraria for participating in the workshops; and have received research grants from Abbott for other projects. Z Kaló is an owner of Syreon and received honoraria for participating in the workshops; and has received research grants from Abbott for other projects. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

Reviewer Disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

Syreon Research Institute received financial support from Abbott Established Pharmaceutical Division. However, the authors summarized their independent professional opinions and take full responsibility for potential errors in the manuscript. The content of this paper, as well as the views and opinions expressed therein are those of the authors and not the organizations that employ them.