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It’s Time to Prioritize CHWs: A Decade of Economic Evaluation Evidence Suggests CHWs are More Cost-Effective Than Alternatives

November 11, 2025 By

Authors: Linnea Stansert Katzen, Cleo Baskin, Madelyn Miyares, James O’Donovon, Carey Westgate, Joe Ernst, Shivani Shukla, Daniel Palazuelos, Soleine Scotney, Dickson Mbewe, Harriet Napier, Zeus Aranda, Marius Nkenfac, Kelsey Vaughan, Madeleine Ballard

This study reviewed 130 papers to see if community health workers (CHWs) provide good value for money in health programs. It found that CHW programs are cost-effective in most cases, especially when they are well-trained, supported, and linked to health facilities. Programs that combine CHWs with digital tools or cover several health areas work better than those focused on one disease. The results show that CHWs are a smart and affordable way to strengthen primary healthcare, and governments should invest in them to reach universal health coverage.

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Resource Topic: CHW programs, health systems

Resource Type: Opinion, Policy

Year: 2025

Region: Global

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Publisher May Restrict Access: No

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