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Urgent Action: Why NCD Progress is Slowing & How to Accelerate It

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Progress in the global fight against non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including prevalent conditions like heart disease and cancer, is significantly decelerating, according to a recent warning from the World Health Organization (WHO). This concerning trend demands renewed focus on effective NCD prevention strategies. NCDs remain the leading cause of death worldwide, claiming 43 million lives annually, with 18 million occurring prematurely before age 70. Hundreds of millions more grapple with reduced quality of life due to these conditions, alongside over a billion experiencing mental health challenges.

Between 2010 and 2019, nearly all countries demonstrated some success in reducing the burden of NCDs, encompassing cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes. However, the pace of improvement has markedly declined across most regions in the subsequent period. This slowdown is attributed to a shifting global health landscape, characterized by decreasing development assistance for health, rising national debts, economic instability, and evolving geopolitical priorities. Consequently, sustaining health investments, especially in low and middle-income countries where almost 75 percent of NCD and mental health-related deaths occur, faces considerable hurdles.

Strengthening Global Efforts in NCD Prevention

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasizes that non-communicable diseases and mental health conditions are “silent killers,” impeding lives and innovation. Nevertheless, the world possesses the necessary tools to save lives and alleviate suffering. Solutions for tackling NCDs and promoting mental well-being are both affordable and highly cost-effective. Implementing high-impact interventions, such as increasing tobacco and alcohol taxation, safeguarding children from harmful marketing, and effectively managing hypertension, would cost an average of only $3 per person per year. This modest investment promises substantial returns.

Full implementation of these strategies by 2030 could save an estimated 12 million lives, avert 28 million heart attacks and strokes, contribute an additional 150 million healthy life years, and generate over $1 trillion in economic benefits. Investing in the fight against NCDs is not merely sound economics; rather, it is an urgent requirement for fostering thriving societies.

Impact of NCDs in India and Way Forward

India, too, faces a significant burden from non-communicable diseases. NCDs account for 61.8% of all deaths in India as of 2016, a substantial increase from 37.9% in 1990. Cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes are major contributors to NCD-related morbidity and mortality in the country. Alarmingly, the probability of dying from an NCD in India increased for women from 46.7% in 2001 to 48.7% in 2019, and a smaller increase for men over the same period, contrasting with global declines in most countries.

The Government of India has initiated programs like the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS) to address this rising challenge. This program focuses on strengthening infrastructure, human resource development, health promotion, early diagnosis, and management across national, state, and district levels. Additionally, population-based screening for common NCDs like hypertension, diabetes, and certain cancers is being rolled out as part of comprehensive primary healthcare under the National Health Mission (NHM).

Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) play a crucial role in raising community awareness about NCDs, promoting healthy lifestyles, and emphasizing early detection through regular health check-ups and screenings. Continued investment in these integrated strategies, alongside WHO’s recommended ‘best buys’ such as tobacco and alcohol taxation, can significantly bolster NCD prevention efforts in India. Therefore, proactive health policies and community engagement remain paramount to reverse the slowing progress and ensure healthier populations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Why has global progress against non-communicable diseases slowed down?

A: The slowdown is attributed to a shifting global health landscape, including declining development assistance for health, countries grappling with rising debt and economic challenges, and geopolitical uncertainties reshaping health priorities. This makes it harder to sustain necessary health investments.

Q2: What are some cost-effective interventions for NCD prevention?

A: Cost-effective interventions include implementing tobacco and alcohol taxation, protecting children from harmful marketing practices, and effectively managing hypertension. These measures could cost as little as $3 per person annually and yield significant health and economic benefits. For those looking to deepen their understanding of cardiovascular health management, the Postgraduate Diploma In Preventative Cardiovascular offers comprehensive insights.

Q3: What are the economic benefits of investing in NCD prevention?

A: By 2030, full implementation of high-impact NCD prevention strategies could save 12 million lives, prevent 28 million heart attacks and strokes, add 150 million healthy life years, and generate over $1 trillion in economic benefits.

References

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