Non-infectious diseases pose an economic threat to healthcare

Abstract

No country can afford the economic burden placed on its health system by the rise in non-communicable diseases not even the rich ones proclaimed Minister of Health Aaron Motsoaledi at the launch of the results of the South African National Health and Nutrition Survey (SANHANES-I). He was referring to the rise in the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes among South Africans. Demetre Labadarios, Olive Shisana and Lucinda Dalais explain further.