Posted by meramd
Fri, 05 Oct 2007 06:52:00 GMT
The Milken Institute has calculated the annual economic impact on the U.S. economy of the most common chronic diseases to be more than $1 trillion, which could balloon to nearly $6 trillion by the middle of the century. Read more here on Yahoo and here on IT Healthcare. The report is titled "An Unhealthy America: The Economic Burden of Chronic Disease" and is one of the first studies on the impact of Chronic diseases.
According to the study, seven chronic diseases -- cancer, diabetes, hypertension, stroke, heart disease, pulmonary conditions and mental illness - - have a total impact on the economy of $1.3 trillion annually. Of this amount, $1.1 trillion represents the cost of lost productivity. The full report is available at http://www.milkeninstitute.org and http://www.pfcd.org. An interactive Web site with more data for each of the chronic diseases is available at http://www.chronicdiseaseimpact.com.
The worrying factor is that the impact could balloon to $6 trillion by the middle of the century as per the Milken report. However the impact can be lowered by focusing more on preventive healthcare. The website http://www.chronicdiseaseimpact.com has charts that depict the cost savings if more preventive steps are taken to safeguard your health. This is also the mission of meraMD -- better health and reduced healthcare costs.
Posted in Miscellaneous | Tags chronic, disease, economic, impact, milken | no comments
Posted by meramd
Mon, 24 Sep 2007 08:42:00 GMT
This was reported on Sep 24, 2007 in The Times of India, a premier newspaper in India. I am reproducing the article in full as I was not able to locate a permanent link for it.
Main points in the article:
- Chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension, cancer and AIDS would account for over 65% of deaths in India by 2020 compared to 53% in ’05
- WHO estimates that mortality from diabetes and heart disease cost India about $210 billion every year and is expected to increase to $335 billion in the next 10 years
- By 2010, an additional 4.5L hospital beds will be required. Value of the healthcare sector is projected to grow to nearly $40 billion by 2012
Quoted article below:
By 2020, 7m Indians may die of lifestyle diseases
Docs Blame It On Lack Of Physical Activity, Obesity, Stress
New Delhi: In a little over a decade from now, chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension, cancer and AIDS would account for over 65% of deaths in India compared to 53% in 2005. By 2020, chronic diseases are expected to claim 7.63 million lives in India, compared to 3.78 million in 1990, a study said.
While ailments like leprosy, poliomyelitis and tetanus has been declining due to concerted government efforts and higher awareness, there has been an increase in lifestyle or chronic diseases like hypertension, cancer, AIDS and diabetes. The shift in the profile of killer diseases is also a result of marked changes in demographics, a study by PricewaterhouseCoopers said.
India that is already home to the largest number of diabetes patients is projected to have 30 million diabetics by 2020, of which 6.6 million or 22% would suffer from complications such as diabetic nephropathy. Doctors blame sedentary lifestyle, lack of physical activity, obesity, stress and consumption of a diet rich in fat and sugar for the high incidence. Similarly, stress both at work and at home is going to take a further toll with the number of people suffering from hypertension estimated to rise 213.5 million in 2025, compared to 118.2 million in 2000 representing an 80% rise in a span of a quarter century.
A recent study had estimated that nearly 11% of India’s urban population and 3% of rural population above the age of 15 have diabetes. The World Health Organization estimates that mortality from diabetes and heart disease cost India about $210 billion every year and is expected to increase to $335 billion in the next 10 years. These estimates are based on lost productivity, resulting primarily from premature death.
While traditionally the government’s focus was on combating infectious diseases, it has now decided to address the issues related to chronic or lifestyle diseases, along with private sector.
But it’s the private sector which accounts for 70% of the hospitals in the country, providing about 60% of all out-patient care and as much as 40% of in-patient care. And, by 2010, it is expected to notch up around 80% of the healthcare market, comprising hospitals and diagnostic centres.
While the growth of private healthcare facilities in India vis-a-vis public healthcare facilities is an emerging trend, the sector requires investment of $25.7 billion over the next three years. By 2010, an additional 4.5 lakh hospital beds will be required, the study adds. Today, the value of the healthcare sector is over $34 billion, translating to roughly 6% of GDP and the sector is projected to grow to nearly $40 billion by 2012.
While the government is drawing up plans to build at least half-a-dozen AIIMS-like multi-speciality hospitals, the study said, the government was expected to chip in with only 15-20% of the investment requirement.
There are however significant challenges that need to be addressed. The lack of adequate healthcare insurance for a vast number of people is a fundamental problem. Currently 11% of the population has any form of health insurance coverage but with growing public-private partnership in this sector, many more people can be brought under insurance coverage.
Posted in Miscellaneous | Tags aids, cancer, diabetes, disease, hypertension, lifestyle | 1 comment
