Non-communicable diseases cost nearly RM9b annually in productivity losses, says Health DG

KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama): Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), particularly cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and cancer, cost the Malaysian economy upwards of RM8.91bil, equivalent to about 0.65% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), says Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

Quoting a new report from the Health Ministry (MOH) and the World Health Organisation (WHO), he said the economic cost was estimated from productivity losses due to absenteeism, presenteeism (working while sick), and the premature death of the working age population in Malaysia.