By Ruth Marsden - 13th October 2011
The cost of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) to the economy is the same as the total sovereign debt of EU countries, a European parliament conference has heard.
European health commissioner John Dalli told a follow up meeting on the recent UN summit on NCDs that the "staggering" €34 trillion NCDs are costing the world economy gives all the more reason to commit ourselves to "doing the right thing".
Speaking at the MEP heart group event on Wednesday, Dalli said, "Prevention of NCDs is the most effective and easiest way to get results."
The UN general assembly summit on NCDs in September 2011 was an attempt to address the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases worldwide, with a focus on developmental and other challenges and social and economic impacts, particularly for developing countries.
NCDs relate to a group of conditions including cardiovascular disease (CVD), cancer, kidney and liver diseases, diabetes, chronic and respiratory diseases and musculoskeletal conditions.
"CVD is the biggest cause of death in Europe," Dalli added, "It is a major burden to society and the economy, responsible for 63 per cent of deaths worldwide."
Dalli said the UN summit held in New York served as a reminder of the magnitude of the problem. "EU countries spend less than three per cent of their budget on addressing prevention, which must be the cornerstone of our fight against NCDs," he warned.
The UN general assembly summit was a step in the right direction, Dalli said, but urged Europe that we must now act, "or the burden will only get bigger".
Cristian Silviu Busoi, co-chair of the MEP heart group, told participants that NCDs are a global health issue and "must be addressed at global level".
Silviu Busoi warned that CVD kills more people than all forms of cancers combined. "CVD represents the biggest disease burden in the world, causing the most deaths before the age of 75," he said.
The Romanian ALDE deputy said that focusing on early management of the risk factors could prevent 80 per cent of CVD cases. "By 2030, with no action, 80 million people will have died from CVD," he added.
"As Europeans, we have a moral duty to our wellbeing. We need to take action and our member states is where it needs to start."
Meanwhile, scientist and World Health Organisation (WHO) representative to the EU, Roberto Bertollini, highlighted the UN political declaration on NCDs as "an historic achievement".
"Thanks to the summit, NCDs are finally on the global agenda, which means that heads of state and governments worldwide - including the EU - are committed more than ever to look for a coordinated response to save millions from premature death and debilitating health complications," Bertollini said.
MEP heart group co-chair Linda McAvan, who chaired the meeting, described the number of people diagnosed with NCDs as "truly frightening" and called for the EU to tackle "the four major causes" of the slow progression diseases.
"There are things the EU and governments can do. I don't think many people realise just how serious they are," McAvan added.
Concluding the discussion, McAvan, a UK Socialist, announced she was happy with the outcome and said the MEP heart group would now look to how they could take the UN declaration forward and "make sure we get a good piece of legislation".
