Belarus: Prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases. The case for investment

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases and their risk factors are an increasing public health and development challenge in Belarus. This report provides evidence that NCDs reduce economic output and discusses potential options in response. An economic burden analysis shows that economic losses from NCDs (direct and indirect costs) are 46.7 trillion old Belarusian rubles per year, which is equivalent to 5.4% of the country’s gross domestic product in 2015. An intervention costing analysis provides an estimation of the funding required to implement a set of policy interventions for tobacco and alcohol control and salt reduction, and cardiovascular disease and diabetes clinical interventions. The economic analysis demonstrated significant returns on investment for all policy interventions.