Diabetes account for 20% of health budget as PM admits NCD is a burden on our economy

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The burden of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) on the country’s economy has been detailed by Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele, with 20% of health’s budget is spent on diabetes whilst each heart disease person costs around $82,000, a diabetes amputation $58,000 and foot ulcer is $20,000.

“Our health system has been struggling under the weight of NCDs,” Manele said.

“The cost of NCDs burdens in the health sector, the loss of productivity in work place and in families, loss of human lives and human dignity,” Manele said that on Friday before receiving the country’s first Comprehensive Medical Centre built by China.

He stated that the health care cost of NCDs are substantial, diabetes alone accounts for 20% of MHMS budget, the average cost of one NCD admission is between $18,000 to $26,000.

Manele also revealed that the cost of cardiovascular disease, (heart disease) per patient is estimated around $82,000, whilst the cost per amputation of a person is $58,000, the cost of foot ulcer is $20,000.

He said to provide increased capacity for the new facility (CMC) his government has increased the health budget for the procurement of drugs and supplies by $70m, to total $127m for 2025.

The PM said with this budget “we should not run out of medicine in Solomon Islands once they have made all the procurements this year.”

 Meanwhile, Manele said the new CMC would provide the added space , modern medical devices of technology and new specialist knowledges and skill in treating and the prevention of severe immobility and mortality of all NCDs.