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Noncommunicable diseases – a global challenge

Cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular and chronic lung diseases kill three in five people worldwide, making noncommunicable diseases the leading causes of death today. Most of these deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries that are also struggling with communicable and other causes of illness. The rapid rise in noncommunicable diseases has a negative impact on efforts to reduce poverty.

Key facts

• Almost 80% of global mortality due to noncommunicable diseases occurs in developing and transition countries.
•
According to forecasts, noncommunicable diseases will be the most wide-spread cause of death in Africa by 2030.

The SDC argues that the causes of noncommunicable diseases span many sectors and therefore require a multi-sectoral response that addresses social, economic and environmental health factors.

For example, noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) increase the pressure on already weak health systems and affect economies, particularly in developing countries. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a 10% increase in the prevalence of NCDs reduces economic growth by 0.5%. As NCDs require long-term therapies, they also place a long-term financial burden on health systems.

The SDC’s focus:

Strengthen health systems

 

The SDC supports its partner countries, most of them low-income countries, in their efforts to strengthen their health systems and to help basic health services deal with the so-called “double burden of disease”: coping with the effects of noncommunicable and communicable disease as well as maternal, perinatal and nutritional causes of illness. SDC-supported programmes

  • focus on health promotion and disease prevention as the most cost-effective approach.
  • promote making early detection and diagnosis accessible to everyone as an integral part of primary healthcare.
  • test new technologies, such as telemedicine in cancer diagnosis, in remote areas.
  • consider mental health a noncommunicable disease and integrate this much neglected area in bilateral programmes.

Support for WHO

The high cost of many NCD treatments, the impact of the exponential rise in the cost of new therapies as well as the long-term commitment required for such therapies are a challenge for low-income economies. The SDC therefore supports sustainable health-financing mechanisms.

The SDC’s multi-sectoral approach also includes financial contributions to multilateral organizations such as the WHO, which has the leading role in organising and coordinating international efforts to combat noncommunicable diseases.

Theme contact: Andreas Loebell

Declaration of the preparation Conference in Moscow

WHO Global Status Report on Noncommunicable diseases 2010

WHO Action Plan on Noncommunicable diseases 2008-13

Additional Information and Documents

Documents
  • Speech Martin Dahinden: Chronic diseases and (health) policy: a global challenge. Basel: 25.08.11
    Swiss Public Health Conference 2011
    Download (PDF, 66 KB) :  [en]  
  • Ist Globalisierung ansteckend? Was haben „Fortschrittskrankheiten“ in den ärmsten Ländern zu suchen?
    Rede Martin Dahinden, Direktor DEZA am 8. Symposium der schweizerischen Gesundheitszusammenarbeit, Basel, 10. November 2009
    Download (PDF, 39 KB) :  [de]  

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Articles and Press releases