AsianScientist (Sep. 19, 2011) – The UN General Assembly, representing 193 member states, today opened an unprecedented high-level meeting to address non-communicable diseases (NCDs), with a particular focus on low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
Non-communicable diseases such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and chronic lung disease cause more 63 percent of all the world’s deaths.
A World Health Organization (WHO) study, called From Burdens to “Best Buys”, reveals that for just US$1.20 per person per year, low-income countries could introduce a core set of strategies to prevent and treat these diseases.
Under a “business as usual” scenario – where intervention efforts remain static and rates of NCDs continue to increase as populations grow and age – economic losses from NCDs are estimated to surpass US$7 trillion over the period 2011-2025 (US$500 billion per year).
This yearly loss is equivalent to approximately four percent of these countries’ current annual output.
By contrast, the price tag for scaled-up implementation of a core set of “best buy” intervention strategies is comparatively low, at US$11.4 billion per year in all low- and middle-income countries.
Population-based measures include excise taxes on tobacco and alcohol, smoke-free indoor workplaces and public places, health information and warnings, as well as campaigns to reduce salt content and replacement of trans fats with polyunsaturated fats, along with public awareness programs.
Individual-based “best buy” interventions include counseling, drug therapy for cardiovascular disease, and measures to prevent cervical cancer.
At a cost of under US$1 per person to generate a healthy year of life in low-income countries, these measures are very cost effective for the average Indian who earns US$1,000 annually, the report noted.
In economic terms, the return will be many billions of dollars of additional output. Reducing the mortality rate for ischemic heart disease and stroke by 10 percent would reduce economic losses in LMICs by an estimated US$25 billion per year – three times greater than the investment to implement these measures, the study found.
The summary of the WHO report: World Health Organization From Burdens to “Best Buys” (PDF, 1.07 MB).
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Source: World Health Organization; Image from World Bank / Curt Carnemark.
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