As non-communicable diseases continue to be the main burden for our people contributing to 80 percent of all deaths in the country and 40 percent of premature deaths, Minister for Health, Doctor Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu says in 2019, the health care costs for deaths and disability from NCDs such as diabetes and obesity-related illnesses was estimated at $591 million.
While delivering his ministerial statement on NCD burden in Parliament this morning, Dr Lalabalavu says the Fiji 2021 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey showed a significant level of unhealthy dietary practices in older children, adolescents, and adults which featured the low consumption of nutritious foods, and a high intake of sugar and sweetened beverages.
The survey also noted that about one third of children in Fiji between the ages of 5 to 19 years were overweight.
He says for adults aged between 35 to 59 years, the leading causes of death in men and women were non-communicable diseases.
The Minister says in response to the NCD situation in Fiji, the Wellness Division of the Ministry is undertaking population surveys where information gathered will guide the strategies on health promotion and NCD prevention programs that are implemented by the Ministry and the Government.
Dr Lalabalavu says recent examples of such interventions include the Cabinet endorsed “National Policy on Healthy Catering and sale of Food and Beverages for Government Ministries and Institutions” and the increased tax on sugar and sweetened beverages and tobacco which the Government had implemented in the last financial year and again in this new financial year.
He says the Ministry has also embarked on World Health Organisation (WHO) STEP survey.
The results of the 2011 STEPS survey showed that 30 percent of adults smoked tobacco daily; 15.7 percent of adults consumed alcohol within the past 30 days, 15 percent of adults do not meet the WHO recommendations on the minimum level of physical activity for health; and 85 percent of adults ate less than 5 servings of fruits and/or vegetables on average per day.
The survey also showed that 32 percent of the respondents were obese while 70 percent were overweight and obese; 31 percent had raised blood pressure; 15.2 percent had raised blood glucose; and 35.8 percent had 3 or more risk factors.
Dr Lalabalavu says results from the STEPS survey will inform on the impact of the population-based interventions for our people over the last 10 years.
Independent MP Alvick Maharaj says NCDs are a huge burden on our already strained healthcare system where the Ministry of Health, for years, has devoted money, time and effort towards treating patients suffering with NCDs, rather than focusing on building state-of-the-art facilities that can provide specialist service.
He says Fijians have to fly out of country to get treatment that are not available in Fiji but we cannot and should not blame the Ministry for not providing these specialist services.
He further says we need to even bring in new medications and not the outdated ones and Fiji also needs to review our essential drug list so that we can have new medications that are available in the market to treat these NCDs. The MP also says they, as the leaders can take the lead role and in Parliament, move away from morning tea to healthy break where they currently have two tea breaks and lunch.
Opposition Bloc of 9 MP Penioni Ravunawa says the health system needs restructuring to meet the present health challenges and creating legislation that aids the process in undeniably a step in the right direction.
He says the evaluation must not only involve health outcome but also take into account professional viewpoint, our patients' experience and the influence on the systemic social issues, the real issues affecting our people.
Meanwhile, Speaker of Parliament, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu is encouraging all MPs to take advantage of the health insurance they are entitled to.
Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations
