{ "background": "Public health surveillance is a cornerstone of effective health systems, yet rigorous methodological evaluations of its cost-effectiveness in low-resource settings are scarce. Rwanda has implemented several innovative surveillance systems, but their comparative efficiency and methodological robustness require systematic assessment. ", "purpose and objectives": "This review aims to methodologically evaluate surveillance systems in Rwanda and conduct a quasi-experimental cost-effectiveness analysis to inform future investment and system design. ", "methodology": "We conducted a systematic methodological review of surveillance systems, followed by a quasi-experimental analysis using propensity score matching to estimate the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of an integrated community-based surveillance programme versus a facility-based system. The core model was: ICER = (C1 - C0) / (E1 - E0), where C and E denote costs and disability-adjusted life years averted, respectively. Uncertainty was quantified using non-parametric bootstrapping to generate 95% confidence intervals. ", "findings": "The methodological review identified a predominant theme of data fragmentation as a key constraint. The quasi-experimental analysis found the community-based system to be dominant, being both more effective and less costly, with an estimated mean cost saving of 18% per disability-adjusted life year averted (95% CI: 12% to 24%). ", "conclusion": "Methodological rigour in evaluating surveillance is critical. The evidence suggests that integrated, community-based surveillance can be a cost-effective strategy for strengthening national public health resilience. ", "recommendations": "Future surveillance investments should prioritise integrated data architectures and robust, quasi-experimental designs for impact evaluation. Policymakers should consider reallocating resources towards community-based platforms. ", "key words": "health surveillance, cost-effectiveness analysis, quasi-experimental design, public health systems, sub-Saharan Africa", "contribution statement": "This paper provides a novel methodological framework combining systematic review with quasi-experimental analysis to evaluate public health surveillance, generating the first comparative cost-effectiveness
Mukamana et al. (Tue,) studied this question.