The 2003 Guide to Cost-Effectiveness Analysis developed by the World Health Organization provides a standardized framework for assessing the value of health interventions and supporting evidence-based resource allocation. Produced under the WHO CHOICE Programme (Choosing Interventions that are Cost-Effective), the guide outlines methods for comparing the costs and health outcomes of different health strategies. It recommends measuring health impact using the Disability-Adjusted Life Year (DALY), which captures both premature mortality and years lived with disability. A key feature of the guidance is generalized cost-effectiveness analysis, which evaluates interventions relative to a “null scenario” of no intervention to identify the most efficient options. The guide also describes approaches for estimating program costs, modeling epidemiological outcomes, discounting future costs and benefits, and conducting sensitivity analysis to address uncertainty and improve decision-making in national health planning.
