The World Health Organization (WHO) assesses the economic consequences of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) by analyzing the impact on households, health systems, and national economies, primarily through evidence-based modeling, return-on-investment studies, and "best buy" interventions
Key aspects of how WHO and its partners assess these consequences include:
The EPIC Model: WHO utilizes the EPIC model to simulate the macroeconomic consequences of NCDs, linking disease-related mortality and morbidity to impacts on labor supply, productivity, and gross domestic product (GDP).
"Best Buys" Costing: WHO identifies cost-effective interventions (Best Buys) for NCD prevention (e.g., tobacco taxation, reduced salt intake) and calculates the return on investment, showing that interventions can save billions in economic losses.
Return on Investment (ROI) Studies: WHO, often in collaboration with PAHO, the World Bank, and academic institutions, conducts ROI studies to show that investing in NCD interventions yields high economic returns.
Regional and Global Studies: The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) specifically tracks NCD economic impact in the Americas, and the WHO conducts global studies on the costs of scaling up intervention packages.
Lancet Taskforce on NCDs and Economics: An official partner of the WHO Independent High-level Commission on NCDs, this taskforce assesses how NCDs drive and are driven by poverty, demonstrating the link between NCD control and economic growth.
Focus on Developing Countries: Assessments heavily focus on low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where 86% of premature deaths from NCDs occur, threatening to cause significant cumulative economic losses (e.g., projected to surpass US$ 7 trillion in LMICs by 2025).
Household Impact: Studies analyze out-of-pocket payments and catastrophic spending on NCD treatment, showing high impoverishment risk for households, particularly in developing nations.
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These assessments are intended for policy-makers and finance ministers to make the case for investing in NCD prevention and management.
