Over the next decade, instances of chronic lung disease, diabetes, and cancer will increase in Albania, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the country’s ageing population, according to the National Health Strategy 2021-2030.
Published in the official gazette this week, the strategy states that the incidence of noncommunicable diseases (NCD) will increase due to a lack of diagnosis and early detection caused by lockdowns and the burden on healthcare services.
“The pressure on health services is expected to increase in the long run. The main reasons will be the increase of diseases that have remained undiagnosed during the pandemic and the increase of long-term cardiovascular and respiratory complications in persons who have passed Covid-19,” the strategy reads.
According to data in the report, hospitalisations in 2020 decreased by almost 30%. The most significant drops were in areas such as cardiology (26%) and kidney transplants (63%). There were also substantial drops in screening for breast cancer (26%) and radiotherapy (8%).
But it is not just the side effects of COVID-19 and delays in diagnosis that will exacerbate the situation. Another factor is the increasing age of the population.
“Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are a growing concern for Albanian society due to the high mortality rate. They have had a significant increase during the period 1990-2010, a trend that is expected to continue in the next 10 years as a result of increasing life expectancy and the ageing of the Albanian population,” the report reads.
There are also concerns that there is limited availability to preventative services, in particular for smoking, alcohol, cholesterol and unhealthy diet and sedentary lifestyles. These all increase the likelihood of NCDs in the population.
Just this week, the World Health Organisation sounded the alarm over a “pandemic” of NCDs around the world.
During a meeting between members, they pledged to reduce premature mortality from NCDs by one third by 2030.
“Apart from the lives they take, NCDs take a heavy toll on economies, cutting down people in their most productive years. Overcoming this challenge requires technical, financial, and above all, political commitment. said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the WHO.
NCDs are largely preventable and treatable, according to the global compact, which reports that an investment of US$ 0.84 per person per year until 2030 could save nearly seven million lives.
“This investment would realise more than US$ 230 billion in economic and societal benefits and avert nearly 10 million heart attacks and strokes globally by 2030”, the WHO press release stated.
