‘Unlocking the Power of Healthy Longevity: Demographic Change, Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs), and Human Capital’ Report by World Bank | Current Affairs | Vision IAS
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‘Unlocking the Power of Healthy Longevity: Demographic Change, Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs), and Human Capital’ Report by World Bank

Posted 13 Nov 2024

2 min read

It focuses on demographic transformation as one of the challenges to human capital and well-being, demonstrating that addressing the major NCDs could contributes to healthy longevity. 

  • Demographic transformation depicts the changing pattern of mortality, fertility and growth from high to lowers birth/death rates. 
  • Healthy longevity refers to reducing preventable deaths and disabilities across life, maintaining physical, mental, and social wellbeing into older age. 

Key Findings of the Report

  • Impact of Non-communicable diseases (NCDs):  Like heart disease, diabetes, cancer, etc. cause over 70% of global deaths annually.
    • Based on current projections, there will be a rise in overall deaths to 92 million (2050) from 61 million (2023).
  • India-related Findings
    • NCDs in childhood: Causes about 1.2–4.2 fewer years of completed education.
    • Higher out of pocket medical expenditure: Primarily dominated by travel costs.  
    • Life expectancy: Lowest at the age of 15 among the lowest education groups due to higher death rates during 30–69 years from NCDs.

Major Recommendations to promote healthy longevity

  • Life-course approach to NCDs: Prevention and Management of NCDs along with other policy reforms like labor markets, social protection and long-term care. 
  • Leveraging fiscal tools: Raising taxes on products that damage people’s health like tobacco, etc. 

About NCDs

  • They are chronic diseases, which tend to be of long duration driven by forces that include rapid unplanned urbanization, globalization of unhealthy lifestyles and population ageing. 
  • In India, National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS), as part of National Health Mission (NHM) focuses on NCD prevention. 
  • Tags :
  • Healthy Longevity Initiative
  • World bank
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