Sanaullah Ghuman
panah84@gmail
Among the serious public health problems that Pakistan is currently facing, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have become the biggest and fastest growing threat. According to the World Health Organization, about 58% of the total deaths in the country are due to non-communicable diseases. According to the WHO report, about 2400 people die every day in Pakistan due to NCDS. A heart attack is happening every minute in Pakistan. 1100 people are dying every day from diabetes and complexity caused due to diabetes. More than 450 people are dying every day from diseases caused by tobacco use. These diseases are mainly caused by lifestyle, which can be controlled. NCDs which are gradually causing great harm to society and the economy. The prevalence of these diseases, especially among the young population, is a worrying situation, as it is directly linked to the future workforce and national development, which is causing economic and social problems in the country.If we look at diabetes alone, according to the International Diabetes Federation report, more than 33 million people in Pakistan are diabetic, and Pakistan is the first country in the world to have people with diabetes in terms of population ratio. According to experts, Pakistan’s economy is losing trillions of rupees annually due to diabetes alone. According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) report, the annual expenditure on diabetes-related drugs alone is estimated to be more than 2.6 billion US dollars, which is double the installment received from the IMF. While the country’s health budget is only about 2 percent of GDP, such chronic diseases are becoming a major obstacle to development.Pakistan has pledged under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to reduce NCDs by one-third by 2030, but this target will not be possible unless work is done to prevent these diseases. One of the major cause of NCDs is our unhealthy diet, which are high in sugar, salt and trans fats. The consumption of salt, sugar and trans fats in Pakistan is higher than the global standard. Marketed junk foods, cheap drinks, salty snacks and ultra-processed products are becoming a part of the daily diet of the common citizen, and mostly affected are the youth and children. Unless food reforms are implemented, no health policy can give lasting results. Many countries around the world have taken the problem of unhealthy diet seriously and implemented simple but effective policies, which result in significant reduction in the rate of diseases. Pakistan can also learn from them and take immediate steps. The world’s tried and tested policies include increasing taxes on unhealthy ultra-processed foods, placing front-of-pack warning labels on UPPs, banning advertising, and banning their sale in educational institutions. According to the world’s tried and tested policies, imposing taxes on sugary drinks, salty snacks, and ultra-processed products rich in fat can significantly reduce their consumption. This tax will provide additional revenue to the government at no cost and this revenue can be used for health and awareness programs. Similarly, front-of-pack warning labels (FOPWL) have proven to be an effective tool for consumers around the world to make informed decisions. Clear labels such as “high sugar” or “high salt” alert the buyer to the risks within seconds and, according to research, they bring about immediate changes in public attitudes. On the other hand, urgent reforms are also needed for children’s nutritional health in schools, including banning the sale of junk food, healthy food guidelines and nutrition education. Moreover, banning the advertising of unhealthy food to children has also been successfully implemented in many countries. Reducing junk food marketing on TV, YouTube, mobile apps and social media platforms automatically reduces consumption, and these are the policies that Pakistan urgently needs.The fact is that no nation can develop without health. If Pakistan want to achieve economic stability and to meet SDGs goals, controlling NCDs is inevitable. The most effective way to do this is through control over unhealthy food, better laws, strict regulation and public awareness. A strong economy is possible only when the nation is healthy, and a secure future is only possible with the right decisions made today.
