The Cost of Treating Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases: Does it Matter?

Conrad, Daren A. and Webb, Marquitta C. (2012): The Cost of Treating Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases: Does it Matter?

Abstract

Heart disease and Type 2 diabetes mellitus are among the two leading causes of death in the CARICOM member states with HIV/AIDS a distant sixth. Attention is now being paid to non-communicable diseases which have outpaced communicable diseases as the major cause of death. This paper investigated the link between the public medical cost of treating chronic non-communicable diseases, namely heart disease and diabetes, on national output in Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago. The results provide evidence that the public medical cost of treating chronic non-communicable diseases does have a statistically significant negative impact on national output.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Non-Communicable Diseases; Caribbean Development; Economic Growth
• Subjects: H - Public Economics > H5 - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies > H51 - Government Expenditures and Health

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