NCDs cost Omani economy RO1.1bn annually

NCDs cost Omani economy RO1.1bn annually

Muscat – The Ministry of Health (MoH) released a study titled ‘The Case for Investment in the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases’ on Thursday. It found that non-communicable diseases (NCDs) cost the Omani economy RO1.1bn annually.

The study was released at a meeting attended by H E Dr Mohammed bin Saif al Hosni, Undersecretary for Health Affairs in MoH, H E Dr Fatima bint Mohammed al Ajmi, Undersecretary for Administrative, Planning and Financial Affairs in MoH, and Sulaiman al Dakheel, general manager of Gulf Health Council.

Representing Oman, MoH conducted the study as part of a joint GCC project, which the Gulf Health Council supervised. The research team included members of several organisations, including the United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Interagency Task Force on the Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases, World Health Organization, and MoH – represented by the Department of Non-communicable Diseases in the Directorate General of Primary Healthcare.

The study was conducted in view of the significant burden of NCDs in society. NCDs cause 72 per cent of all deaths in the sultanate.

An estimated one in five adults – under the age of 70 – dies of an NCD. The study revealed that NCDs cost the Omani economy