Non-communicable Disease Epidemic in Developing Countries – Financial solutions

What Are NCDs? Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) –

cardiovascular disease, cancers, chronic respiratory disease and diabetes

Largely preventable by effective interventions that tackle shared risk factors: unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, tobacco use and harmful use of alcohol

Have significant negative impacts on development: Premature deaths reduce productivity, limit economic growth and trap families in poverty

Costs of NCDs Each year, 16 million people die prematurely before the

age of 70 from NCDs 4 out of 5 of these deaths occur in developing

countries, making such diseases one of the major development challenges of the 21st century

If countries don't change tack on NCDs, an estimated $7 trillion could be lost in developing countries over the next 15 years

This contrasts starkly with the cost of action: $11 billion a year to implement a set of NCD interventions in all developing countries

Source: WHO, 2015

The Goal of This Project To demonstrate that the development

community can prevent and control the NCD epidemic through concerted action in financing of agriculture and food sectors

To address sustainability and country ownership in health and nutrition

To offer a solution and “food for thought” to control and prevent NCDs in developing countries

The Curse of Cheap, Processed Food

In developing countries, big part of the available food is processed, unhealthy, and lacks micronutrients

Traditional diets are abandoned and replaced with fast food

People suffer from undernutrition and obesity

Example from a Small Island Developing State, April 2015

Historically, the biggest industry was farming, but this was discouraged after tourism was considered to be more beneficial to the country’s economy

Supermarkets do not have locally grown products, even if the climate would allow growing a variety of fruit and vegetables

Mostly processed food available such as canned “meals”, chips, crackers, and sweet pastries

90 % of the fresh food are imported, extremely expensive and of poor quality

75% women and 40% of men are overweight or obese. Diabetes and cardiovascular diseases result in disability, loss of healthy years and premature deaths

The Complexity of “Why” Globalization and “westernization” of habits Expansion of fast food chains in developing

countries Lack of awareness and health education Governments bundling with companies Donor countries' trade policies that benefit their

export “Big is beautiful” – thinking

Multi-sectoral Financing Solutions Are Needed

The following slides introduce financial solutions

Donor Countries to: Keep ODA commitments and direct it to support the

development of local responsibility over the problem Promote the export of healthy products and restrict

the import of unhealthy products Channel funds in projects that raise awareness of

NCDs and their risk factors Refrain from exporting leftover harvest to developing

countries in the form of ODA, since it decreases the demand of local products and work force

Transfer technology assistance that supports local production and is proved to work in local conditions

Governments to: Direct domestic public resources to combat

NCDs Lower taxes of fresh and unprocessed products Rise taxes of products with high sugar and salt

– also a revenue to fund growing health care costs

Establish incentives to local production and farming

Develop a multisectoral financial action plan to tackle NCDs

Ban harmful advertising

International Community to: Support initiatives in line with the SDG

3, especially 3.4 (NCDs) of the 2030 Development Agenda

Provide guidance on innovative financing to tackle NCDs and maximize countries potential

Scale up international tax cooperation

Private Businesses to: Increase the availability of healthy

options in developing countries, in line with WHO recommendations

Eliminate trans-fats in products Engage with governments and other

actors towards public health goals Commit to transparent and stable rules

and standards and free and fair competition, conducive to achieving national policies

Health is the precondition of the achievement of every single Sustainable Development Goal

Thank You!