Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Micro -costing analysis of guideline -based treatment by direct -acting agents: the real -life 
case of hepatitis C manage ment in Brazil  
 
Version: 1 Date: 11 Jul 2017  
 
Reviewer: William Wong  
 
Reviewer's repor t: 
 
The revised manuscript is in an acceptable format. However, the following has to be addressed 
before publication:  
 
Major revised request  
1) Liver biopsy is often compare with TE, in the manuscript, TE cost has a break down table 
shown in the supplementary, a similar break down table should be provide for liver biopsy as 
well. Alternatively, the author should at least cite/explain where is the cost of liver biopsy 
(US$482.32) was come from.  
2) Sensitivity analysis was mentioned but not reported  in the main text or supplementary 
material  
In the method section, the author stated "In a sensivity analysis, price of TE was adjusted with 
the opportunity cost of using public resources for implementation of new technologies (cost of 
capital).  The marke t prices were considered for diagnostic tests not performed at 
INI/FIOCRUZ". This sensitivity analysis (respect to the overall result) has to be included in the 
result section / in the supplementary section.  
 
Minor revision:  
1) "According to the recommenda tions for HCV treatment from the BMoH, presence of liver 
fibrosis stages F≥2 and F≥3 were necessary for free -treatment access until 2012 and from 
2013 to nowadays, respectively"  
This sentence has to break down in two sentence, as I am not clear how the pol icy was changed. 
Is it from F>=2 to F>=3 or F>=3 to F>=2.  
 
2) Some  minor typo was found in the text, another proofreading is necessary  
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Does the w ork include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are yo u able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an  
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require further  
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I am able  to assess the statistics  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Acceptable  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
 
1. Have  you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an  
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially from the publication of this  
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation that may in any way gain or lose  
financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents relating to the content of the  
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds  or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
 
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
 
6. Do you have any non -financial com peting interests in relation to this paper?  
 
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have no competing interests' 
below.  If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
I declare that I have no competing interests  
 
I agree t o the open peer review policy of the journal. I understand that my name will be included  
on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted for publication, my named report  
including any attachments I upload will be posted on the website along with the authors'  
responses. I agree for my report to be made available under an Open Access Creative Commons  
CC-BY license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ). I understand that any comments  
which I do not wish to be included in my named report can be included as confidential comments  
to the editors, which will not be published.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal  
Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Micro -costing analysis of guideline -based treatment by direct -acting agents: the real -life 
case of hepatitis C manage ment in Brazil  
 
Version: 1 Date: 11 Jul 2017  
 
Reviewer: William Wong  
 
Reviewer's repor t: 
 
The revised manuscript is in an acceptable format. However, the following has to be addressed 
before publication:  
 
Major revised request  
1) Liver biopsy is often compare with TE, in the manuscript, TE cost has a break down table 
shown in the supplementary, a similar break down table should be provide for liver biopsy as 
well. Alternatively, the author should at least cite/explain where is the cost of liver biopsy 
(US$482.32) was come from.  
2) Sensitivity analysis was mentioned but not reported  in the main text or supplementary 
material  
In the method section, the author stated "In a sensivity analysis, price of TE was adjusted with 
the opportunity cost of using public resources for implementation of new technologies (cost of 
capital).  The marke t prices were considered for diagnostic tests not performed at 
INI/FIOCRUZ". This sensitivity analysis (respect to the overall result) has to be included in the 
result section / in the supplementary section.  
 
Minor revision:  
1) "According to the recommenda tions for HCV treatment from the BMoH, presence of liver 
fibrosis stages F≥2 and F≥3 were necessary for free -treatment access until 2012 and from 
2013 to nowadays, respectively"  
This sentence has to break down in two sentence, as I am not clear how the pol icy was changed. 
Is it from F>=2 to F>=3 or F>=3 to F>=2.  
 
2) Some  minor typo was found in the text, another proofreading is necessary  
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Does the w ork include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are yo u able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an  
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require further  
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I am able  to assess the statistics  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Acceptable  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
 
1. Have  you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an  
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially from the publication of this  
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation that may in any way gain or lose  
financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents relating to the content of the  
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds  or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
 
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
 
6. Do you have any non -financial com peting interests in relation to this paper?  
 
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have no competing interests' 
below.  If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
I declare that I have no competing interests  
 
I agree t o the open peer review policy of the journal. I understand that my name will be included  
on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted for publication, my named report  
including any attachments I upload will be posted on the website along with the authors'  
responses. I agree for my report to be made available under an Open Access Creative Commons  
CC-BY license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ). I understand that any comments  
which I do not wish to be included in my named report can be included as confidential comments  
to the editors, which will not be published.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal  
Please review this paper.
user
Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Micro -costing analysis of guideline -based treatment by direct -acting agents: the real -life 
case of hepatitis C manage ment in Brazil  
 
Version: 1 Date: 11 Jul 2017  
 
Reviewer: William Wong  
 
Reviewer's repor t: 
 
The revised manuscript is in an acceptable format. However, the following has to be addressed 
before publication:  
 
Major revised request  
1) Liver biopsy is often compare with TE, in the manuscript, TE cost has a break down table 
shown in the supplementary, a similar break down table should be provide for liver biopsy as 
well. Alternatively, the author should at least cite/explain where is the cost of liver biopsy 
(US$482.32) was come from.  
2) Sensitivity analysis was mentioned but not reported  in the main text or supplementary 
material  
In the method section, the author stated "In a sensivity analysis, price of TE was adjusted with 
the opportunity cost of using public resources for implementation of new technologies (cost of 
capital).  The marke t prices were considered for diagnostic tests not performed at 
INI/FIOCRUZ". This sensitivity analysis (respect to the overall result) has to be included in the 
result section / in the supplementary section.  
 
Minor revision:  
1) "According to the recommenda tions for HCV treatment from the BMoH, presence of liver 
fibrosis stages F≥2 and F≥3 were necessary for free -treatment access until 2012 and from 
2013 to nowadays, respectively"  
This sentence has to break down in two sentence, as I am not clear how the pol icy was changed. 
Is it from F>=2 to F>=3 or F>=3 to F>=2.  
 
2) Some  minor typo was found in the text, another proofreading is necessary  
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Does the w ork include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are yo u able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an  
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require further  
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I am able  to assess the statistics  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Acceptable  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
 
1. Have  you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an  
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially from the publication of this  
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation that may in any way gain or lose  
financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents relating to the content of the  
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds  or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
 
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
 
6. Do you have any non -financial com peting interests in relation to this paper?  
 
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have no competing interests' 
below.  If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
I declare that I have no competing interests  
 
I agree t o the open peer review policy of the journal. I understand that my name will be included  
on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted for publication, my named report  
including any attachments I upload will be posted on the website along with the authors'  
responses. I agree for my report to be made available under an Open Access Creative Commons  
CC-BY license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ). I understand that any comments  
which I do not wish to be included in my named report can be included as confidential comments  
to the editors, which will not be published.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal  
assistant