FOR every RM1 spent by the government on salt reduction programmes, there will be over RM60 in economic returns for the country over the next 15 years, says Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.
The Health Minister said the return of investment (ROI) from such programmes came from the potential savings and economic contribution created by the public from avoiding salt-consumption related health issues.
“This includes any avoided heart attacks, strokes and work absenteeism due to hypertension.
“Measured financially, this means every RM1 invested in salt reduction programmes yields a return of up to RM60 for the country and the people,” he said in a speech at the launch of the Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases (NCD) in Malaysia: The Case for Investment report in Parliament yesterday.
He added that the ROI of salt reduction programmes also far exceeded the RM6.64 ROI generated from physical activity programmes and RM5.93 ROI from tobacco control programmes per RM1 spent.
Speaking on NCDs, Dzulkefly said that such diseases caused RM64bil in economic loss for the country in 2021 with many sufferers either unable to work or worse.
He said this massive hit to the economy was based solely on only four most common NCDs of cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases.
This included direct economic losses of RM12.4bil to provide health care for NCD patients and while indirect costs amounted to a massive RM51.8bil.
“The indirect costs are mostly related to absenteeism and presenteeism which arise as a result of NCD complications such as fatigue, blurred vision and increased risk of infection.
“It is estimated that the country’s economy lost RM1.8bil to absenteeism and RM30bil to presenteeism,” he said.
Absenteeism due to NCD refers to when a working age adult is unable to work or contribute to the economy due to NCD complications.
Presenteeism due to NCD refers to a working age adult being able to work but at a significantly lower level of productivity or efficiency due to having an NCD.
The report also outlined a number of key interventions that gave the highest ROI since 2021.
He added that his ministry was also looking to launch a new initiative called the “Lung Health Initiative Malaysia 2025-2030” to combat respiratory NCDs that are caused by smoking.
“This initiative will look to strengthen our prevention, screening, treatment, and control of lung-related diseases across the country,” he said.
