Report Reveals Rising Cost Of Chronic Diseases In The Workplace

[Oneword]

* Chronic disease is responsible for more than 60% of all deaths globally
* Report calls for the worldwide introduction of workplace health programmes to tackle chronic disease
* Leading companies urge health issues to be put higher up the corporate agenda

Geneva, Switzerland, 19 May 2008 – The World Health Organization/World Economic Forum report on workplace wellness, “Preventing Noncommunicable Diseases in the Workplace through Diet and Physical Activity”, highlights the need to tackle the causes of chronic diseases in the workplace. The full report was presented today in the lead up to the 61st World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland. Business leaders attending the launch event urged the World Health Assembly to tackle the issues raised in the report during its meeting. The report calls for workplace health programmes to be promoted and implemented globally.

Chronic disease, such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes and chronic respiratory disease, is responsible for more than 60% of all deaths globally and is projected to account for 47 million deaths annually in the next 25 years. The economic consequences - driven by productivity reductions and increases in costs caused by these noncommunicable diseases among workforces - are dramatic. The WHO estimates that between 2005-2015, income loss (in international dollars) could rise to as much as $558 billion in China, $237 billion in India, $33 billion in Russia and $33 billion in the UK.

Not restricted to developed nations or older populations, the problem is growing fastest in low- and middle-income countries, and almost half of those who die from chronic diseases are in their productive years. Countries like Brazil, China, Russia and India currently lose more than 20 million productive life-years annually to chronic disease, and that number is expected to grow by 65% by 2030.

Evidence from workplace wellness programmes, in both developed and developing countries, shows that disease risk can be reduced through programmes that address tobacco-free living, healthy eating and physical activity. These programmes are not only cost effective, but they also reduce healthcare costs, improve productivity, retain human capital and build a sustainable business. Workplace wellness programmes are enlightened self-interest investments from a health, bottom-line and national perspective.

At the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting 2008 in Davos, 16 global CEOs made a call to action to strengthen commitment to employee wellness in the workplace on a worldwide scale. ArcelorMittal, Becton Dickinson, BT Group, Discovery Holdings, Eskom, General Mills, Humana, Nestle, Pfizer, PricewaterhouseCoopers, PepsiCo, Pitney Bowes and Unilever were among the multinational companies pledging action. This call for action was endorsed by those attending today’s launch.

Background Information: The mission of the World Economic Forum’s Working Towards Wellness initiative is to stimulate greater business engagement in the global fight against chronic disease through employee wellness. The goals of this initiative are to engage CEOs and business leaders in committing to measurably improve employee health and wellness; help companies take practical steps to improve general employee health; and facilitate collaboration between stakeholders in the battle against chronic disease.


WEF

I think workplace wellness plays a big part in curbing some chronic diseases.
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