The burden of death and disability from brain diseases is a global health challenge, costing over US$800bn in the United States (US) alone, exceeding that of cancer and cardiovascular disease. Brain disorders have been described as a pandemic far worse than Covid-19, with one in three people having some form of these conditions.
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The value of action: mitigating the global impact of neurological disorders
The impact of neurological diseases is most felt in low- and middle- income countries, where 70% of the global burden is concentrated. Yet the burden of neurological disorders is also significant in wealthier regions—the direct costs in Europe, for example, are greater than those for cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes combined. As populations increase and grow older, the burden will only increase, presenting a significant challenge to health systems and national economies.
Strategies and programmes that reduce the burden of neurological disorders are desperately needed. Yet the provision of neurological care, including efforts to enable equitable access, is insufficient. A further, unfortunate truth is that data on the burden of neurological are scarce, even in high-income countries, and especially in comparison to other non-communicable diseases. We do know that urgent action is needed to drive prevention, improve care effectiveness, and leverage policymaking and funding to reach achievable advances in outcomes. But the first step is developing a clear understanding of the issue and the significant nuances involved.
A new Economist Impact programme, The Value of Action: Mitigating the Global Impact of Neurological Disorders, seeks to break down existing silos by assessing the epidemiological burden, economic impact and current policy landscape on a multi-regional and disorder-specific basis. One of the first of its kind, this programme quantifies the value of action from an added angle: the indirect costs that would be avoided by reducing the substantial caregiver burden and productivity losses that arise from neurological disorders. Building a detailed economic picture spanning several conditions, our analysis finds that 50% the total cost of neurological disorders is due to these indirect costs. We also found that scaling-up prevention, treatment and rehab to adequate levels for the top 10 neurological disorders would save over US$4trn by 2030, across the 11 countries that we studied.
Executive Summary:
Findings Report:
Methodology Appendix:
Download the infographics now:
Steven Cramer, Professor of Neurology at the University of California, Los Angeles, discusses gaps and opportunities around stroke in the US.
Dr. Muthoni Gichu, head of the Health and Ageing Unit at the Ministry of Health, Kenya, highlights the landscape of neurological disorders in Kenya, including epilepsy.
Frédéric Destrebecq, Executive Director at European Brain Council, lays out the impact and need for policy action on brain disorders in Europe.
Value-based healthcare in Sweden: Reaching the next level
The need to get better value from healthcare investment has never been more important as ageing populations and increasing numbers of people with multiple chronic conditions force governments to make limited financial resources go further.
These pressures, along with a greater focus on patient-centred care, have raised the profile of VBHC, especially in European healthcare systems. Sweden, with its highly comprehensive and egalitarian healthcare system, has been a leader in implementing VBHC from the beginning, a fact that was underscored in a 2016 global assessment of VBHC published by The Economist Intelligence Unit.
This paper looks at the ways in which Sweden has implemented VBHC, the areas in which it has faced obstacles and the lessons that it can teach other countries and health systems looking to improve the value of their own healthcare investments.
Breast cancer patients and survivors in the Asia-Pacific workforce
With more older women also working, how will the rising trend of breast cancer survivorship manifest in workplace policies, practices and culture? What challenges do breast cancer survivors face when trying to reintegrate into the workforce, or to continue working during treatment? How can governments, companies and society at large play a constructive role?
This series of reports looks at the situation for breast cancer survivors in Australia, New Zealand and South Korea. It finds that while progress has been made, more needs to be done, particularly in South Korea, where public stigma around cancer remains high.
War is catastrophic for the health system of a country under siege. The current war in Ukraine is no exception—the Ukrainian health system is suffering immensely. Not only must the health system cope with the influx of wounded soldiers and civilians, but also with the destruction of its physical infrastructure and power supply. As the war in Ukraine continues, the Ukrainian government, allied governments and the non-governmental community seek to rebuild the health system in perilous conditions.
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Health
Value-based healthcare in Sweden: Reaching the next level
The need to get better value from healthcare investment has never been more important as ageing populations and increasing numbers of people with multiple chronic conditions force governments to make limited financial resources go further.
These pressures, along with a greater focus on patient-centred care, have raised the profile of VBHC, especially in European healthcare systems. Sweden, with its highly comprehensive and egalitarian healthcare system, has been a leader in implementing VBHC from the beginning, a fact that was underscored in a 2016 global assessment of VBHC published by The Economist Intelligence Unit.
This paper looks at the ways in which Sweden has implemented VBHC, the areas in which it has faced obstacles and the lessons that it can teach other countries and health systems looking to improve the value of their own healthcare investments.
Breast cancer patients and survivors in the Asia-Pacific workforce
With more older women also working, how will the rising trend of breast cancer survivorship manifest in workplace policies, practices and culture? What challenges do breast cancer survivors face when trying to reintegrate into the workforce, or to continue working during treatment? How can governments, companies and society at large play a constructive role?
This series of reports looks at the situation for breast cancer survivors in Australia, New Zealand and South Korea. It finds that while progress has been made, more needs to be done, particularly in South Korea, where public stigma around cancer remains high.
Cardiovascular diseases levy a substantial financial toll on individuals, their households and the public finances. These include the costs of hospital treatment, long-term disease management and recurring incidence of heart attacks and stroke. They also include the costs of functional impairment and knock-on costs as families may lose breadwinners or have to withdraw other family members from the workforce to care for a CVD patient. Governments also lose tax revenue due to early retirement and mortality, and can be forced to reallocate public finances from other budgets to maintain an accessible healthcare system in the face of rising costs.
As such, there is a need for more awareness of the ways in which people should actively work to reduce their CVD risk. There is also a need for more primary and secondary preventative support from health agencies, policymakers and nongovernmental groups.
To inform the decisions and strategies of these stakeholders, The Economist Intelligence Unit and EIU Healthcare, its healthcare subsidiary, have conducted a study of the prevalence and costs of the top four modifiable risk factors that contribute to CVDs across the Asian markets of China, Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand.
An estimated 100 million people in Europe are living with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and a further 300 million individuals are at risk.
CKD prevalence is outpacing other, more recognised non-communicable diseases, largely owing to an ageing population and the increasing prevalence of other risk factors such as diabetes, heart disease and obesity.
CKD is an incurable, long-term condition in which kidney function declines with time. If CKD is not detected early and managed properly it becomes very expensive and burdensome for all stakeholders.
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Health
Value-based healthcare in Sweden: Reaching the next level
The need to get better value from healthcare investment has never been more important as ageing populations and increasing numbers of people with multiple chronic conditions force governments to make limited financial resources go further.
These pressures, along with a greater focus on patient-centred care, have raised the profile of VBHC, especially in European healthcare systems. Sweden, with its highly comprehensive and egalitarian healthcare system, has been a leader in implementing VBHC from the beginning, a fact that was underscored in a 2016 global assessment of VBHC published by The Economist Intelligence Unit.
This paper looks at the ways in which Sweden has implemented VBHC, the areas in which it has faced obstacles and the lessons that it can teach other countries and health systems looking to improve the value of their own healthcare investments.
Breast cancer patients and survivors in the Asia-Pacific workforce
With more older women also working, how will the rising trend of breast cancer survivorship manifest in workplace policies, practices and culture? What challenges do breast cancer survivors face when trying to reintegrate into the workforce, or to continue working during treatment? How can governments, companies and society at large play a constructive role?
This series of reports looks at the situation for breast cancer survivors in Australia, New Zealand and South Korea. It finds that while progress has been made, more needs to be done, particularly in South Korea, where public stigma around cancer remains high.
Cardiovascular diseases levy a substantial financial toll on individuals, their households and the public finances. These include the costs of hospital treatment, long-term disease management and recurring incidence of heart attacks and stroke. They also include the costs of functional impairment and knock-on costs as families may lose breadwinners or have to withdraw other family members from the workforce to care for a CVD patient. Governments also lose tax revenue due to early retirement and mortality, and can be forced to reallocate public finances from other budgets to maintain an accessible healthcare system in the face of rising costs.
As such, there is a need for more awareness of the ways in which people should actively work to reduce their CVD risk. There is also a need for more primary and secondary preventative support from health agencies, policymakers and nongovernmental groups.
To inform the decisions and strategies of these stakeholders, The Economist Intelligence Unit and EIU Healthcare, its healthcare subsidiary, have conducted a study of the prevalence and costs of the top four modifiable risk factors that contribute to CVDs across the Asian markets of China, Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand.
Multiple myeloma accounts for 10% of all blood cancers and is the 2nd most common blood cancer globally. The past three decades have seen a doubling of the global incidence and mortality of myeloma with the rise being most pronounced in lower and middle-income countries (LMICs). Countries in Latin America (LATAM), including Brazil, Colombia and Mexico, have documented rising incidence and mortality due to multiple myeloma.
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Health
Value-based healthcare in Sweden: Reaching the next level
The need to get better value from healthcare investment has never been more important as ageing populations and increasing numbers of people with multiple chronic conditions force governments to make limited financial resources go further.
These pressures, along with a greater focus on patient-centred care, have raised the profile of VBHC, especially in European healthcare systems. Sweden, with its highly comprehensive and egalitarian healthcare system, has been a leader in implementing VBHC from the beginning, a fact that was underscored in a 2016 global assessment of VBHC published by The Economist Intelligence Unit.
This paper looks at the ways in which Sweden has implemented VBHC, the areas in which it has faced obstacles and the lessons that it can teach other countries and health systems looking to improve the value of their own healthcare investments.
Breast cancer patients and survivors in the Asia-Pacific workforce
With more older women also working, how will the rising trend of breast cancer survivorship manifest in workplace policies, practices and culture? What challenges do breast cancer survivors face when trying to reintegrate into the workforce, or to continue working during treatment? How can governments, companies and society at large play a constructive role?
This series of reports looks at the situation for breast cancer survivors in Australia, New Zealand and South Korea. It finds that while progress has been made, more needs to be done, particularly in South Korea, where public stigma around cancer remains high.
Cardiovascular diseases levy a substantial financial toll on individuals, their households and the public finances. These include the costs of hospital treatment, long-term disease management and recurring incidence of heart attacks and stroke. They also include the costs of functional impairment and knock-on costs as families may lose breadwinners or have to withdraw other family members from the workforce to care for a CVD patient. Governments also lose tax revenue due to early retirement and mortality, and can be forced to reallocate public finances from other budgets to maintain an accessible healthcare system in the face of rising costs.
As such, there is a need for more awareness of the ways in which people should actively work to reduce their CVD risk. There is also a need for more primary and secondary preventative support from health agencies, policymakers and nongovernmental groups.
To inform the decisions and strategies of these stakeholders, The Economist Intelligence Unit and EIU Healthcare, its healthcare subsidiary, have conducted a study of the prevalence and costs of the top four modifiable risk factors that contribute to CVDs across the Asian markets of China, Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand.
"Enhancing patient-centred approaches to optimise early-breast cancer care: a review of current practice and opportunities for improvement in Thailand" is a research report by Economist Impact examining the existing breast cancer care pathway in Thailand and the factors that help or hinder the goal of achieving optimal patient-centred care.
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Enhancing patient-centred approaches to optimise early-breast cancer care i...
New Zealand is amongst the countries with the highest prevalence of breast cancer, affecting one in nine women, and more than 600 deaths every year. The incidence rate exceeds the OECD average and is second only to Australia. According to the WHO New Zealand Cancer profile, the total breast cancer cases per year are expected to increase by 31% and reach 4,584 by 2040 from 3,504 in 2018.
Breast cancer diagnosed at an early stage, when it is not too large and has not spread, is more likely to be treated successfully than breast cancer diagnosed at an advanced stage. Advanced breast cancer not only creates an urgent health challenge but also impedes the quality of life, and brings significant economic costs for patients, their families and public health systems.
Low awareness, late diagnosis, and poor access to treatment especially for disadvantaged communities has meant that breast cancer outcomes can be poor. However, there are significant opportunities to improve breast cancer care in New Zealand by understanding the patient-centred care pathway for early breast cancer diagnosis and treatment and investigating the unmet needs in the management of breast cancer.
Using an evidence-based approach that incorporates a review of existing data and an expert panel meeting, we designed a force field analysis to assess existing policies and system performance across four domains of patient journey: population awareness, screening and diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship.
Indicators within each domain were selected based on evidence of their impact on promoting or deterring optimisation of patient-centred care for early breast cancer. We then conducted a workshop to discuss our findings and gain the perspective of key experts in New Zealand to flesh out key opportunities for improvement. Based on our research and insights from the workshop, we drafted scores for indicators within these four domains. This report combines indepth research and force field analysis of early breast cancer care in New Zealand.
Key findings:
Awareness: Awareness is the first step towards any change. It is critical to promote health literacy to increase participation in preventive care measures such as modifiable lifestyle changes and exercise, self-examination of breasts, regular check-ups with GPs, and screening for eligible candidates. Various stakeholders such as NGOs, patient advisory groups, the government etc., are involved in promoting awareness of early breast cancer and associated risk factors such as alcohol consumption and obesity. However, lack of access to information particularly for Māori and Pacific peoples is a big barrier to the optimisation of patient-centred care in New Zealand.
Treatment: New Zealand last published guidelines for the management of early breast cancer in 2009.. These guidelines include informed decision-making and a multidisciplinary approach to treat cancer. However, there is a need to update the guidelines to deliver high quality, evidence based care, improve outcomes, reduce variation, and make good decisions with resources. New Zealand should consider how it equitably prioritises access to innovative medicines for its population.
Survivorship: Continuity of care and psychological support for cancer survivors are important elements of patient centred care. In New Zealand, there is an opportunity for specialist nurses and primary care providers/GPs to offer continuous support to cancer survivors at the community level. Psychological support, though acknowledged, is identified as an unmet need, which must be addressed.
Workforce: Workforce availability was identified as a cross cutting challenge across all steps of the patient journey. To optimise patient-centred care, there is a need to develop, retain, and up-skill the health workforce in New Zealand.
We conclude with the following opportunities to optimise early breast cancer care and improve outcomes for people living with breast cancer in New Zealand:
1. Move beyond mortality and focus on quality of life: In New Zealand, the outcome measures for breast cancer management should go beyond simply mortality reduction. The target should be to improve quality of life by providing patientcentred care and support.2. Establish a coalition or alliance of stakeholders: To align the priorities of individuals impacted by breast cancer (patients and carers) and the preferences of the decision-makers, a breast cancer expert coalition or strategic alliance should be established with patient advocates, industry representatives, academia, and relevant healthcare professionals.3. Aspire for world-class care with improved access to innovative treatments: To meet the international standards of breast cancer care, the health system should identify the right outcomes and define tangible key performance indicators (KPIs) and quality performance indicators (QPIs). The aim should be to achieve improved patient-centred care and treatment options and ensure that health budgets are better targeted towards the interventions that would have the biggest effects on patient care and outcomes.4. Ensure screening programmes are available and are equitable: Since screening programmes play a vital role in early detection, impacting patient outcomes, monitoring and evaluating screening programmes at regular intervals is essential. The screening programme data, alongside important KPIs such as coverage and uptake, can be used to inform policy makers whether the screening programme is delivering the expected benefits or not. Ensuring timely uptake and availability of screening programmes is accessible for Māori and Pacific peoples is key to improving outcomes.
Video | Enhancing patient-centred approaches to optimise early-breast cance...
“Enhancing patient-centred approaches to optimise early-breast cancer care: a review of current practice and opportunities for improvement in New Zealand” is a research report by Economist Impact examining the existing breast cancer care pathway in New Zealand and the factors that help or hinder the goal of achieving optimal patient-centred care.
The research aims to understand the unmet needs within the health system and opportunities for improvement. We analyse how New Zealand can improve patient-centred care and build awareness, promote screening, early detection, diagnosis and prognosis, and ensure access to high-quality treatment, including supportive and palliative care.
Vaccine coverage in Brazil has decreased since 2015. Until the middle of the last decade, it was considered an example for other emerging countries, particularly those of Latin America. This fall has sparked concern among experts and public administrators, not only because of its consequences for the public health, but also because of its implication for the country’s commitments to UN’s Objectives for Sustainable Development for 2030. After all, Brazil is one of the WHO IA2030 signatory countries.
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Value-based healthcare in Sweden: Reaching the next level
The need to get better value from healthcare investment has never been more important as ageing populations and increasing numbers of people with multiple chronic conditions force governments to make limited financial resources go further.
These pressures, along with a greater focus on patient-centred care, have raised the profile of VBHC, especially in European healthcare systems. Sweden, with its highly comprehensive and egalitarian healthcare system, has been a leader in implementing VBHC from the beginning, a fact that was underscored in a 2016 global assessment of VBHC published by The Economist Intelligence Unit.
This paper looks at the ways in which Sweden has implemented VBHC, the areas in which it has faced obstacles and the lessons that it can teach other countries and health systems looking to improve the value of their own healthcare investments.
Breast cancer patients and survivors in the Asia-Pacific workforce
With more older women also working, how will the rising trend of breast cancer survivorship manifest in workplace policies, practices and culture? What challenges do breast cancer survivors face when trying to reintegrate into the workforce, or to continue working during treatment? How can governments, companies and society at large play a constructive role?
This series of reports looks at the situation for breast cancer survivors in Australia, New Zealand and South Korea. It finds that while progress has been made, more needs to be done, particularly in South Korea, where public stigma around cancer remains high.
Cardiovascular diseases levy a substantial financial toll on individuals, their households and the public finances. These include the costs of hospital treatment, long-term disease management and recurring incidence of heart attacks and stroke. They also include the costs of functional impairment and knock-on costs as families may lose breadwinners or have to withdraw other family members from the workforce to care for a CVD patient. Governments also lose tax revenue due to early retirement and mortality, and can be forced to reallocate public finances from other budgets to maintain an accessible healthcare system in the face of rising costs.
As such, there is a need for more awareness of the ways in which people should actively work to reduce their CVD risk. There is also a need for more primary and secondary preventative support from health agencies, policymakers and nongovernmental groups.
To inform the decisions and strategies of these stakeholders, The Economist Intelligence Unit and EIU Healthcare, its healthcare subsidiary, have conducted a study of the prevalence and costs of the top four modifiable risk factors that contribute to CVDs across the Asian markets of China, Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand.
A new Economist Impact research, Now is the time to take gum disease seriously: A roadmap for improving oral health in the United States, assesses the status of gum disease in the US, identifies evidence around policies and practices that link to better gum health and provides relevant considerations to reduce the burden of gum disease. We bring together scientific literature research with valuable insights from industry experts.
Five key objectives underpin the analysis of this report:
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Value-based healthcare in Sweden: Reaching the next level
The need to get better value from healthcare investment has never been more important as ageing populations and increasing numbers of people with multiple chronic conditions force governments to make limited financial resources go further.
These pressures, along with a greater focus on patient-centred care, have raised the profile of VBHC, especially in European healthcare systems. Sweden, with its highly comprehensive and egalitarian healthcare system, has been a leader in implementing VBHC from the beginning, a fact that was underscored in a 2016 global assessment of VBHC published by The Economist Intelligence Unit.
This paper looks at the ways in which Sweden has implemented VBHC, the areas in which it has faced obstacles and the lessons that it can teach other countries and health systems looking to improve the value of their own healthcare investments.
Breast cancer patients and survivors in the Asia-Pacific workforce
With more older women also working, how will the rising trend of breast cancer survivorship manifest in workplace policies, practices and culture? What challenges do breast cancer survivors face when trying to reintegrate into the workforce, or to continue working during treatment? How can governments, companies and society at large play a constructive role?
This series of reports looks at the situation for breast cancer survivors in Australia, New Zealand and South Korea. It finds that while progress has been made, more needs to be done, particularly in South Korea, where public stigma around cancer remains high.
Cardiovascular diseases levy a substantial financial toll on individuals, their households and the public finances. These include the costs of hospital treatment, long-term disease management and recurring incidence of heart attacks and stroke. They also include the costs of functional impairment and knock-on costs as families may lose breadwinners or have to withdraw other family members from the workforce to care for a CVD patient. Governments also lose tax revenue due to early retirement and mortality, and can be forced to reallocate public finances from other budgets to maintain an accessible healthcare system in the face of rising costs.
As such, there is a need for more awareness of the ways in which people should actively work to reduce their CVD risk. There is also a need for more primary and secondary preventative support from health agencies, policymakers and nongovernmental groups.
To inform the decisions and strategies of these stakeholders, The Economist Intelligence Unit and EIU Healthcare, its healthcare subsidiary, have conducted a study of the prevalence and costs of the top four modifiable risk factors that contribute to CVDs across the Asian markets of China, Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand.
Malnourished children are subject to physical and cognitive delays, often impeding them from reaching their complete developmental potential with significant and lifelong health, social and economic implications. Malnourished children are also more susceptible to infectious and chronic diseases and achieve lower levels of education and reduced adult income.
Related content
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Health
Value-based healthcare in Sweden: Reaching the next level
The need to get better value from healthcare investment has never been more important as ageing populations and increasing numbers of people with multiple chronic conditions force governments to make limited financial resources go further.
These pressures, along with a greater focus on patient-centred care, have raised the profile of VBHC, especially in European healthcare systems. Sweden, with its highly comprehensive and egalitarian healthcare system, has been a leader in implementing VBHC from the beginning, a fact that was underscored in a 2016 global assessment of VBHC published by The Economist Intelligence Unit.
This paper looks at the ways in which Sweden has implemented VBHC, the areas in which it has faced obstacles and the lessons that it can teach other countries and health systems looking to improve the value of their own healthcare investments.
Breast cancer patients and survivors in the Asia-Pacific workforce
With more older women also working, how will the rising trend of breast cancer survivorship manifest in workplace policies, practices and culture? What challenges do breast cancer survivors face when trying to reintegrate into the workforce, or to continue working during treatment? How can governments, companies and society at large play a constructive role?
This series of reports looks at the situation for breast cancer survivors in Australia, New Zealand and South Korea. It finds that while progress has been made, more needs to be done, particularly in South Korea, where public stigma around cancer remains high.
Cardiovascular diseases levy a substantial financial toll on individuals, their households and the public finances. These include the costs of hospital treatment, long-term disease management and recurring incidence of heart attacks and stroke. They also include the costs of functional impairment and knock-on costs as families may lose breadwinners or have to withdraw other family members from the workforce to care for a CVD patient. Governments also lose tax revenue due to early retirement and mortality, and can be forced to reallocate public finances from other budgets to maintain an accessible healthcare system in the face of rising costs.
As such, there is a need for more awareness of the ways in which people should actively work to reduce their CVD risk. There is also a need for more primary and secondary preventative support from health agencies, policymakers and nongovernmental groups.
To inform the decisions and strategies of these stakeholders, The Economist Intelligence Unit and EIU Healthcare, its healthcare subsidiary, have conducted a study of the prevalence and costs of the top four modifiable risk factors that contribute to CVDs across the Asian markets of China, Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand.
However, emergency department crowding is a global problem and long waits are becoming more common.
This article is part of a series on improving decision-making across different settings and contexts. It highlights the challenges that overcrowding in the emergency department (ED) creates for healthcare staff and patients, and explores some of the innovative approaches and technologies being used to help smooth workflow.
Key takeaways include:
Solutions to stem the rising tides of ED presentations have been implemented in three key stages:
Value-based healthcare in Sweden: Reaching the next level
The need to get better value from healthcare investment has never been more important as ageing populations and increasing numbers of people with multiple chronic conditions force governments to make limited financial resources go further.
These pressures, along with a greater focus on patient-centred care, have raised the profile of VBHC, especially in European healthcare systems. Sweden, with its highly comprehensive and egalitarian healthcare system, has been a leader in implementing VBHC from the beginning, a fact that was underscored in a 2016 global assessment of VBHC published by The Economist Intelligence Unit.
This paper looks at the ways in which Sweden has implemented VBHC, the areas in which it has faced obstacles and the lessons that it can teach other countries and health systems looking to improve the value of their own healthcare investments.
Breast cancer patients and survivors in the Asia-Pacific workforce
With more older women also working, how will the rising trend of breast cancer survivorship manifest in workplace policies, practices and culture? What challenges do breast cancer survivors face when trying to reintegrate into the workforce, or to continue working during treatment? How can governments, companies and society at large play a constructive role?
This series of reports looks at the situation for breast cancer survivors in Australia, New Zealand and South Korea. It finds that while progress has been made, more needs to be done, particularly in South Korea, where public stigma around cancer remains high.
Cardiovascular diseases levy a substantial financial toll on individuals, their households and the public finances. These include the costs of hospital treatment, long-term disease management and recurring incidence of heart attacks and stroke. They also include the costs of functional impairment and knock-on costs as families may lose breadwinners or have to withdraw other family members from the workforce to care for a CVD patient. Governments also lose tax revenue due to early retirement and mortality, and can be forced to reallocate public finances from other budgets to maintain an accessible healthcare system in the face of rising costs.
As such, there is a need for more awareness of the ways in which people should actively work to reduce their CVD risk. There is also a need for more primary and secondary preventative support from health agencies, policymakers and nongovernmental groups.
To inform the decisions and strategies of these stakeholders, The Economist Intelligence Unit and EIU Healthcare, its healthcare subsidiary, have conducted a study of the prevalence and costs of the top four modifiable risk factors that contribute to CVDs across the Asian markets of China, Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand.
This shift has been enabled by advances in technology, surgical techniques, and innovation in healthcare delivery methods, and have been further driven by factors like lower cost of care and reduced resource utilization in outpatient versus inpatient settings. However, equitable access to outpatient services remains an issue.
The article is part of a series on improving decision-making across different settings and contexts. It explores opportunities to leverage innovations and technologies to achieve the full potential of outpatient care in the US, including:
Value-based healthcare in Sweden: Reaching the next level
The need to get better value from healthcare investment has never been more important as ageing populations and increasing numbers of people with multiple chronic conditions force governments to make limited financial resources go further.
These pressures, along with a greater focus on patient-centred care, have raised the profile of VBHC, especially in European healthcare systems. Sweden, with its highly comprehensive and egalitarian healthcare system, has been a leader in implementing VBHC from the beginning, a fact that was underscored in a 2016 global assessment of VBHC published by The Economist Intelligence Unit.
This paper looks at the ways in which Sweden has implemented VBHC, the areas in which it has faced obstacles and the lessons that it can teach other countries and health systems looking to improve the value of their own healthcare investments.
Breast cancer patients and survivors in the Asia-Pacific workforce
With more older women also working, how will the rising trend of breast cancer survivorship manifest in workplace policies, practices and culture? What challenges do breast cancer survivors face when trying to reintegrate into the workforce, or to continue working during treatment? How can governments, companies and society at large play a constructive role?
This series of reports looks at the situation for breast cancer survivors in Australia, New Zealand and South Korea. It finds that while progress has been made, more needs to be done, particularly in South Korea, where public stigma around cancer remains high.
Cardiovascular diseases levy a substantial financial toll on individuals, their households and the public finances. These include the costs of hospital treatment, long-term disease management and recurring incidence of heart attacks and stroke. They also include the costs of functional impairment and knock-on costs as families may lose breadwinners or have to withdraw other family members from the workforce to care for a CVD patient. Governments also lose tax revenue due to early retirement and mortality, and can be forced to reallocate public finances from other budgets to maintain an accessible healthcare system in the face of rising costs.
As such, there is a need for more awareness of the ways in which people should actively work to reduce their CVD risk. There is also a need for more primary and secondary preventative support from health agencies, policymakers and nongovernmental groups.
To inform the decisions and strategies of these stakeholders, The Economist Intelligence Unit and EIU Healthcare, its healthcare subsidiary, have conducted a study of the prevalence and costs of the top four modifiable risk factors that contribute to CVDs across the Asian markets of China, Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand.
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