Media Clipping — Friday, October 18, 2002, The Daily News, Halifax

Chronic disease costing province billions

By Beverley Ware

Study finds preventable illnesses are creating an 'enormous economic burden'

Chronic illness costs each Nova Scotian $3,200 a year, according to a new study released in Halifax yesterday.

But nearly half of those diseases are preventable, the study’s author says, and so if people started living healthier the province could save nearly $3 billion a year.

The figures come from GPI Atlantic. It’s the first analysis of how much chronic disease costs Nova Scotia’s economy in money and lost productivity. Dalhousie University will use the information to develop a strategy on the prevention of chronic illness for the provincial health department.

"When you add the numbers up, the costs of non-infectious, non-communicable chronic disease in Nova Scotia is extraordinarily high," said author Ron Colman. "They represent an enormous economic burden."

Seven types of chronic disease - which are all connected to healthy living - account for a "staggering" $3 billion in losses to Nova Scotia’s economy, Colman said.

And that, he said, is an underestimate. Colman said the true figure is even larger because his report doesn’t take into account other chronic conditions such as digestive disorders and blood disease.

The good news, however, is that 40 per cent of these illnesses and half of premature deaths due to chronic diseases are preventable. Colman said that means if the province can convince people to live healthier, "It would be highly cost effective."

Exercise, a better diet and not smoking would dramatically improve the health of Nova Scotians, Colman said, and save the government millions. Improving education and income are also crucial. "Poverty is the most reliable predictor of poor health, early death and disability," Colman said.

Deputy Health Minister Tom Ward said "the challenge is, how do we engage Nova Scotians in this process?" Government must support communities with funding, but he said people must also take responsibility for their own health.

Liberal health critic Jim Smith said the government has its work cut out. "Just putting a few dollars in community health boards is not going to solve this issue. It’s going to take real commitment from the government."

Jane Farquharson, executive director of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Nova Scotia, has been involved in government studies for 12 years. "We have the best data in Canada," she said, but added it hasn’t gone anywhere. "What happens from the strategy point of view is really going to determine how seriously they’re taking this."

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