Over 350,000 people are expected to be saved from premature deaths with the investment in the prevention and control of Non-Communicable Diseases that cost the national economy a loss estimated at P756.5 billion per year, equivalent to 4.8 percent of the country’s annual GDP.
This figure includes the direct costs of NCDs associated with treatment but also the indirect ‘hidden’ costs arising from reduced productivity in the workplace and premature death of the workforce.
The ‘hidden’ costs of NCDs are 9 times higher than the direct costs.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III emphasized that investing in the prevention and control of NCDs resonates well with the objectives of our Universal Health Care Law, as we are shifting our focus from treatment to primary care and health promotion programs.
“Our country’s efforts on tobacco control and sin taxes will jump-start our NCD prevention and control strategies,” he said.
NCDs, which include diseases such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, stroke and chronic respiratory diseases, account for 68 percent of all deaths in the Philippines.
These diseases have been shown to negatively impact on the population’s health, as well as the economy.
Acting WHO Representative in the Philippines Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe said the health and economic cost of NCDs was a sobering reminder for us that we need to do more to prevent and control NCDs in the Philippines.
“Major progress on prevention and control of NCDs is within reach, but we need to act now and we must involve all sectors including health, education, finance, planning, environment and sports.”
Premature deaths from NCDs are largely caused by unhealthy behaviors including tobacco use, an unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and harmful use of alcohol. In the Philippines, 40 percent of men and 12 percent of 13-15-year-old school-based adolescents smoke.
Among alcohol users, 48 percent of men and 17 percent of women ‘binged’ (defined as consuming six or more drinks in one sitting) during the month before the survey.
In 2015, another survey revealed that 43 percent of adults were not sufficiently physically active, with women at higher risk of physical inactivity than men. Furthermore, the average daily salt intake is more than double the WHO recommendation.
