Prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases in Georgia: case for investment

Overview

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and chronic respiratory disease pose a major threat to health and economic development in Georgia. Their total economic toll is over 3 billion lari, roughly 6.2% of the national gross domestic product. This report demonstrates how NCDs harm Georgia’s economy and proposes possible interventions to address NCD risk factors, the economic and social benefits of such changes, the potential returns on investment (ROI) and the political feasibility of implementing the interventions in Georgia. Of the interventions, the salt package has the highest ROI, would save 10 000 lives over 15 years and is politically feasible. Strengthening tobacco cessation also has a high ROI, would save 2700 lives and is politically feasible. While alcohol interventions have a high ROI and could save 6900 lives, they would likely face significant political and cultural barriers. Similarly, physical activity interventions had a less favourable ROI and impact and would face significant implementation barriers. An institutional context analysis indicated a series of actionable “entry points” that are feasible and effective for inducing change in the current political and institutional context, including: implementing salt reduction strategies and new tobacco control measures while strengthening existing measures, strengthening other initiatives (e.g. physical activity and reducing alcohol use), using the new NCD strategy and the new primary health care strategy to gain political momentum for NCD prevention and control and uniting all stakeholders through cross-sectoral coordination.