Lifestyle diseases epidemic impacting medical schemes
DISEASES related to unhealthy lifestyles and poor diet are an increasing health and economic burden that also impact negatively on medical schemes. It is an epidemic that requires urgent attention according to Dr Guni Goolab, Principal Officer of the Government Employees Medical Scheme (GEMS).
Statistics South Africa analysis of mortality and causes of death found that non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as type 2 diabetes, stroke and cardiovascular diseases, were responsible for 55.5 percent of all deaths in the country in 2015.
“This," says Goolab, “highlights the challenge they pose. Millions of South Africans suffer from, and are being treated for NCDs. Aside from the immense suffering they cause, they represent a significant risk to the local healthcare sector, the successful implementation of National Health Insurance as well as the broader economy.
“If we are to mitigate the massive risk these diseases pose to the sustainability of our entire healthcare system, we need to work together in a determined and coordinated manner while there is still time to do so.”
It would, he adds, be misleading to suggest that all NCDs are related to poor lifestyle choices. Factors that can lead to their development include cancers, type 2 diabetes and heart diseases. They may include genetic predisposition and environment.
However, the World Health Organisation (WHO) rates the prevalence of NCDs a growing global ‘epidemic’ driven primarily by: physical inactivity, unhealthy diets, tobacco use, excessive use of alcohol and unhealthy diets. And the considerable socioeconomic costs make their prevention and control a critical imperative for the 21st century.
Dr Goolab attributes the rise in NCDs in South Africa to: the increased consumption of fast and convenience foods high in sugar, carbohydrates, salt and saturated fats; the heavy use of tobacco and alcohol; as well as the increasingly sedentary lifestyles of people, particularly in urban areas.
Poorer people also find it considerably more difficult to afford healthy foods.
He says, “While Government leads the way in addressing these problems through legislation aimed at reducing the content of unhealthy salt and sugars in our food, as well as tobacco use, a unified approach from all sectors of society is needed.
“Every South African must be more aware of the threats that the adoption of an unhealthy lifestyle poses, and be empowered to take greater responsibility for their own health.”
Medical schemes are particularly affected and GEMS has consequently re-aligned its products, services and benefits to emphasise preventative over curative interventions to reduce the risks to its members.
“We have adopted highly proactive measures in dealing with these healthcare conditions.
“These include innovative managed healthcare programmes, selective underwriting measures, public and member educational and awareness campaigns, as well as effective disease management programmes.
“More than 300 000 of our members are currently enrolled on at least one of our disease management programmes,” he adds.