From burden to "best buys": Reducing the economic impact of NCDs in low- and middle-income countries
There is growing awareness and concern about the large and escalating burden of chronic, noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) not just from the public health perspective but also from the economic one. The social burdens associated with the four diseases – cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer and chronic respiratory diseases – include prolonged disability, diminished resources within families and reduced productivity, in addition to tremendous demands on health systems. This report addresses current information gaps in our understanding of how to mitigate these challenges by highlighting recent findings about the social costs of NCDs and the resource needs for managing these conditions. Specifically, the report brings together findings from two new studies aimed at equipping decision-makers in government, civil society and the private sector with key economic insights needed to help reduce the growing burden of NCDs.