13.
Developing Countries
Dual Burden of Diseases
For the first time in history, poor countries are now facing a dual burden of infectious and chronic diseases. While third world governments are funding cash and devising plans to prevent a possible flu pandemic, little is being done to tackle these big killers such as cancer, diabetes and respiratory and heart disease.
India has planned to import equipments worth $215 Billion to diagnose and treat lifestyle diseases in next 5 years. Renowned cardiologist Dr R.R. Kasliwal says that lifestyle diseases pose a greater threat to ordinary Indians than HIV/AIDS.
In the yesteryears, life style diseases were diseases of the affluent and uncommon in the developing world. Gone are those days and now they are an important threat to developing economies, draining a good chunk of their scanty health budget.
India has planned to import equipments worth $215 Billion to diagnose and treat lifestyle diseases in next 5 years. Renowned cardiologist Dr R.R. Kasliwal says that lifestyle diseases pose a greater threat to ordinary Indians than HIV/AIDS.
In the yesteryears, life style diseases were diseases of the affluent and uncommon in the developing world. Gone are those days and now they are an important threat to developing economies, draining a good chunk of their scanty health budget.
Third World Catching Up With The Diseases Of The Rich
These diseases often hit people at the peak of their economic productivity. Developing countries are adopting the least healthy habits of the west. This is particularly true of urban and wealthier classes. Today, already half of new cancer cases occur in developing countries.
Elsewhere the problem is often obesity. On a shopping street in Manila or Johannesburg or Hyderabad, you will find people as fat as those you’d see in a Midwestern American mall. That wasn’t the case 10 years ago. But now, many formerly poor people can afford to gorge on calories, often in new fast-food restaurants.
Elsewhere the problem is often obesity. On a shopping street in Manila or Johannesburg or Hyderabad, you will find people as fat as those you’d see in a Midwestern American mall. That wasn’t the case 10 years ago. But now, many formerly poor people can afford to gorge on calories, often in new fast-food restaurants.
Highest Outbreak of New Diseases In 1980s
Researchers from the Zoological Society of London, the Wildlife Trust and Columbia University have analyzed databases of disease outbreaks and found 335 cases of emerging diseases between 1940 and 2004. Of these, 60.3% were infections which also affected animals, and 71.8% were known to have triggered disease in humans after spreading from animals.
Major outbreaks of disease have become more common around the globe in the past 40 years, according to the largest ever investigation into emerging infections. Diseases such as Ebola and Sars, which originally spread from animals, are an increasing threat to human health, and many infections have now become resistant to antibiotics.
The international team of scientists have warned that tropical regions are likely to become a future hotspot for new diseases, and called for early warning systems to be set up in countries to spot outbreaks before they become unmanageable.
More diseases emerged in the 1980s than any other decade, according to the study.
Major outbreaks of disease have become more common around the globe in the past 40 years, according to the largest ever investigation into emerging infections. Diseases such as Ebola and Sars, which originally spread from animals, are an increasing threat to human health, and many infections have now become resistant to antibiotics.
The international team of scientists have warned that tropical regions are likely to become a future hotspot for new diseases, and called for early warning systems to be set up in countries to spot outbreaks before they become unmanageable.
More diseases emerged in the 1980s than any other decade, according to the study.
Digital Age Diseases
A study by the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations says that although India’s IT boom has brought spiralling corporate profits and higher incomes for employees, it has also led to a surge in workplace stress and lifestyle diseases. Former health minister, Anbumani Ramadoss says, “IT is the fastest-growing industry in our country, but it is most vulnerable to lifestyle diseases.
Its future growth could be stunted if we don’t address the problem now.”
India’s rapid economic growth could be slowed by a sharp rise in the prevalence of heart disease, stroke and diabetes, and the successful information technology industry is likely to be the hardest hit. Lifestyle diseases are estimated to have wiped $9bn off the country’s national income in 2005, but the cost could reach more than $100bn over the next 10 years if corrective action is not taken soon.
Its future growth could be stunted if we don’t address the problem now.”
India’s rapid economic growth could be slowed by a sharp rise in the prevalence of heart disease, stroke and diabetes, and the successful information technology industry is likely to be the hardest hit. Lifestyle diseases are estimated to have wiped $9bn off the country’s national income in 2005, but the cost could reach more than $100bn over the next 10 years if corrective action is not taken soon.
Long working hours, night shifts and a sedentary lifestyle make people employed at such companies prone to heart disease and diabetes. There have also been growing reports of depression and family breakdown in the industry.
Infosys Technologies, India’s second-largest software exporter, has a 24-hour hotline for employees suffering from depression to contact psychiatrists. A company director says “We must have prevented at least 30 deaths from suicide because of this hotline in one year.” In Bangalore the psychiatrists say their Saturdays are reserved for marriage counselling for the IT sector.
Infosys Technologies, India’s second-largest software exporter, has a 24-hour hotline for employees suffering from depression to contact psychiatrists. A company director says “We must have prevented at least 30 deaths from suicide because of this hotline in one year.” In Bangalore the psychiatrists say their Saturdays are reserved for marriage counselling for the IT sector.
“...There's a lot of money in the Western diet. The more you process any food, the more profitable it becomes. The healthcare industry makes more money treating chronic diseases (which account for three quarters of the $2 trillion plus we spend each year on health care in this country) than preventing them. ”
~ John Robbins