September 19, 2011 — A report just issued by the World Health Organization (WHO) provides guidance for international stakeholders to address the enormous economic impact of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) by suggesting low-cost methods of reducing NCD incidence.
The report, From Burden to "Best Buys": Reducing the Economic Impact of Non-Communicable Diseases in Low- and Middle-Income Countries , is a synthesis of 2 previous studies: a joint effort by the World Economic Forum and the Harvard School of Public Health looking at the effects of NCDs on the global economy; and an in-house analysis by the WHO of the costs of scaling up disease-prevention programs in low- and middle-income countries. The 4 diseases that are the focus of the report are cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, and chronic respiratory diseases.
"Noncommunicable diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide, killing ever more people each year," says Ala Alwan, MD, assistant director-general for NCDs and mental health at the WHO. "Nearly 80% of these deaths occur in low- and middle income countries."/.../
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