Lilly: An Unexpected Global Health Threat

If someone asked you to characterize the biggest global health crisis in low and middle income countries, would non-communicable diseases (NCDs) come to mind? Probably not. With headlines focusing on infectious diseases like Ebola or influenza, the damaging societal effect of chronic diseases can get lost. In fact, NCDs like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer have the greatest impact on economic stability, governance, and workforce productivity. 

The NCD epidemic represents a truly global crisis. According to a recent ABAC/APEC study, the associated risks include a significant loss in GDP, which will, in turn, have an effect on the global economy. These findings were reinforced by a task force organized by the Council on Foreign Relations in the first ever global health report with a focus on NCDs.

Read on for more about the global impact of NCDs.