Costs and scale-up costs of community-based Oral HIV Self-Testing for female sex workers and men who have sex with men in Jakarta and Bali, Indonesia

BACKGROUND: The proportion of individuals who know their HIV status in Indonesia (66% in 2021) still remains far below the first 95% of UNAIDS 2030 target and were much lower in certain Key Populations (KPs) particularly Female Sex Workers (FSW) and Male having Sex with Male (MSM).

Indonesia has implemented Oral HIV Self-testing (oral HIVST) through Community-based screening (HIV CBS) in addition to other testing modalities aimed at hard-to-reach KPs, but the implementation cost is still not analysed.

This study provides the cost and scale up cost estimation of HIV CBS in Jakarta and Bali, Indonesia.

METHODS: We estimated the societal cost of HIV CBS that was implemented through NGOs.

The HIV CBS’s total and unit cost were estimated from HIV CBS outcome, health care system cost and client costs.

Cost data were presented by input, KPs and areas.

Health care system cost inputs were categorized into capital and recurrent cost both in start-up and implementation phases.

Client costs were categorized as direct medical, direct non-medical cost and indirect costs.

Sensitivity and scenario analyses for scale up were performed.

RESULTS: In total, 5350 and 1401 oral HIVST test kits were distributed for HIV CBS in Jakarta and Bali, respectively.

Average total client cost for HIV CBS Self testing process ranged from US$1.9 to US$12.2 for 1 day and US$2.02 to US$33.61 for 2 days process.

Average total client cost for HIV CBS confirmation test ranged from US$2.83 to US$18.01.

From Societal Perspective, the cost per HIVST kit distributed were US$98.59 and US$40.37 for FSW and MSM in Jakarta andUS$35.26 and US$43.31 for FSW and MSM in Bali.

CONCLUSIONS: CBS using oral HIVST approach varied widely along with characteristics of HIV CBS volume and cost.

HIV CBS was most costly among FSW in Jakarta, attributed to the low HIV CBS volume, high personnel salary cost and client cost.

Future approaches to minimize cost and/or maximize testing coverage could include unpaid community led distribution to reach end-users, integrating HIVST into routine clinical services via direct or secondary distribution and using social media network.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12913-024-10577-0.