To support the country’s response to epidemics of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), the Government of Thailand today welcomed a high-level delegation representing the United Nations Interagency Task Force (UNIATF) on NCDs, led by World Health Organization (WHO) Deputy Director-General Dr Soumya Swaminathan.
“Thailand understands that NCDs pose a major threat to public health and development and must be tackled tactically and urgently,” said Dr Piyasakol Sakolsatayadorn, Minister of Public Health, when meeting the UNIATF mission.
Today, NCDs, primarily cardiovascular diseases, cancers, diabetes and chronic lung diseases, account for 71% of deaths in Thailand , or 400 000 people, while the probability of dying prematurely (between the ages 30 and 70 years) from NCDs is 16%. The main risk factors driving Thailand’s rapidly rising burden of NCDs are tobacco use, harmful use of alcohol, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and air pollution.
NCDs are draining Thailand’s health budget for universal health coverage (UHC) and hitting the national economy hard. In 2013, the economic cost of NCDs was an estimated 280 billion THB, or 2% of GDP, due to premature deaths and loss of productivity among the workforce.
In response, Thailand has pioneered innovative policies and programs but still faces numerous challenges in achieving its NCD-related goals. The government has prioritized the strengthening of UHC, striving to deliver high quality health care to its citizens and provide financial protection for people needing healthcare.
In addition, it has implemented key measures to protect against NCDs. This includes implementing last year a tax on sugar sweetened beverages (SSB), promoting physical activity and implementing progressive tobacco control policies. The SSB tax has also prompted soft drink producers to reformulate their products to reduce their sugar content.
“Thailand has been a trail blazer in progressive policies for tobacco and alcohol policies, as well as the promotion of physical activity,” said Dr Swaminathan, WHO Deputy Director-General, who during her mission visited health facilities in northern Thailand benefiting from the country’s strong approach to universal health coverage. “Now, the government must act as one to protect its citizens from the main risks that cause NCDs by prioritizing public over commercial interests. To beat NCDs, all of society coordination is essential, and it must be led from the highest levels of government.”
Responding to the NCDs challenge requires coordinated action by not only health sector, but many others, including transport, urban planning, education and finance. Thailand has developed a strong strategy linking different government sectors to work together on tackling NCDs and their risk factors. But to succeed, investment and implementation is required to put measures in place to promote health and beat NCDs.
During the visit, a forum was held to encourage high level participation of different government departments and ministries in the prevention and control of NCDs to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. This includes target 3.4 to reduce premature death from NCDs by one-third by 2030.
The mission was conducted to also support the government’s efforts to promote mental health and well-being, and reduce injuries from road traffic accidents and other causes. Represented were WHO, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), UNAIDS, UNICEF, UNWomen, the World Food Programme, and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
“Preventing and controlling NCDs is everyone’s business,” said Ms. Deidre Boyd, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Thailand. “The whole UN system here in Thailand is committed to work together to beat NCDs. As a result of this mission we will be working even harder to support Government tackle the main causes of heart disease, cancer and diabetes in Thailand through evidence-based multisectoral action.”
The UNIATF mission comes at a crucial moment as world leaders prepare to participate in the United Nations General Assembly Third High-level Meeting on NCDs, being held in New York on 27 September 2018.