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 RO1.1bn every year, which was equivalent to 3.59 per cent of the GDP in 2019. This annual cost included RO609mn in healthcare expenditure and RO486mn in lost productive capacity due to premature mortality and disabilities.

In 2017, the NCD causing the most deaths in Oman was cardiovascular disease, accounting for 36 per cent of all deaths in the country, followed by cancer – 11 per cent deaths – and diabetes – eight per cent deaths.

The study indicated that Oman could reduce its burden of NCDs by investing in four cost-effective and proven policy and intervention packages over the next 15 years (till 2034).

In doing so, Oman could save RO671mn in economic output losses. Furthermore, by investing in these four interventions and policy packages, Oman could save at least 18,724 lives and reduce the incidence of diseases.

According to the study, the intervention packages are associated with benefits far outweighing the costs. Salt reduction had the highest return on investment (8.6:1), followed by tobacco control (4.8:1), cardiovascular and diabetes clinical interventions (2.3:1) and diet and physical activity awareness (2:1).

An extended 20-year analysis shows that the return on investment continues to increase to 16.6, 10.9, 3.8 and 3.7 for the intervention packages in the same order as listed above.

One of the key recommendations of the study is the importance of strengthening multi-sectoral, government and societal action on NCDs. This would help Oman reap significant health and economic benefits from scaled-up investments to reduce NCDs.