Diabetes Atlas

The emerging epidemic of non-communicable diseases is threatening to overwhelm healthcare systems worldwide unless action is taken now. Diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and chronic respiratory diseases cause 60% of all deaths worldwide, with four in every five of these deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries. NCDs are an under-appreciated cause of poverty and now present a serious barrier to economic development. They are estimated to reduce gross domestic product (GDP) by up to 5% in many low- and middle-income countries, dealing a double blow to fragile economies struggling in the global recession and its aftermath.

NCDs threaten all sectors of society and have been recognized as a serious and increasing global risk by the World Economic Forum (see Figure 6.1). NCDs hit workers in LMCs in their most productive years and if unchecked, will decimate the workforce in particular countries with catastrophic impact for both economic growth and the well being of families.

Although diabetes and the other NCDs account for 35 million deaths annually, they are seriously under-resourced. Most bilateral and multilateral funding organizations of Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) to low-income countries have little or no funding for NCD programmes. The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) strongly supports the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which include targets on maternal health, child health, and HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. But the MDGs need indicators to measure progress on NCDs before the NCD burden undermines progress made on economic and human development.

Public and Private Partnerships

The World Health Organization (WHO), in its 2008—2013 Action Plan for the Global Strategy for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases, identifies international partnerships as paramount in the global struggle against NCDs. The WHO Action Plan calls for concerted action on a global scale from governments, non-governmental organizations, the international community and private sector.

In May 2009, IDF, International Union Against Cancer (UICC) and World Heart Federation (WHF) rose to the challenge and issued a joint statement timed to coincide with the meeting of the World Health Assembly in Geneva. The organizations highlighted their support for the WHO Action Plan and called for the international community to:

1. Ensure the availability of essential medicines for people living with NCDs in low- and middle- income countries  
2. Immediately and substantially increase financing for NCDs  
3. Integrate NCD prevention into national health systems and the global development agenda  
4. Create a Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for NCDs  
5. Support a UN General Assembly Special Session on NCDs

Simple, cost-effective solutions exist to take on the burgeoning epidemic of NCDs. With 10-12 essential NCD medicines — most of which are out-of-patent and cost pennies to produce — the world could save millions of lives in LMCs. Such action would bring the international community closer to achieving the UN Millennium Development Goals. Governments who invest in prevention now will be spared the overwhelming costs of chronic care later.

IDF is working to raise awareness of the growing diabetes burden and catalyse political action to reverse the epidemic. Statements from the high level UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and Caribbean Heads of Government meetings in July 2009 show clearly that political momentum is growing. 2009 may come to be seen as a landmark year in moving diabetes and the other NCDs higher up the global agenda.

Source: World Economic Forum, 2009 1