Global disease statistics

The diseases of poverty

Much of the disease burden in low-income countries finds its roots in the consequences of poverty, such as poor nutrition, indoor air pollution and lack of access to proper sanitation and health education. The WHO estimates that diseases associated with poverty account for 45 per cent of the disease burden in the poorest countries.

• Tuberculosis, malaria and HIV/AIDS, for example, together account for nearly 18 per cent of the disease burden in the poorest countries.
  
  
• Diarrhoeal diseases still claim 1.8 million lives each year, most of whom are children.
  
• According to the WHO, exposure to biomass smoke increases the risk of acute lower respiratory infections (ALRI) in childhood, particularly pneumonia. Globally, ALRI represent the single most important cause of death in children under 5 years and account for at least two million deaths annually in this age group.
  
  
• Malnutrition particularly affects people in poor countries. As a result of vitamin A deficiency, for example, 500,000 children become blind each year.
  

Diseases of rich and poor converging

It is also worth observing that the disease burden of rich and poor countries is beginning to converge.

For example, non-communicable diseases such as cancers, neuropyschiatric and cardiovascular diseases – traditionally associated with high-income countries – now represent over 60 per cent of the total global disease burden, and impact both rich and poor countries.

Cardiovascular diseases alone account for one-quarter of all deaths in low mortality low-income countries, with this proportion set to rise as these countries gain access to diets richer in fats and calories. In absolute terms, non-communicable diseases now kill greater numbers of people in the lower-income countries than they do in high-income countries.

»	How governments can stop aggravating plague of fake drugs May 11, 2009 The outbreak of swine flu has reminded us of the constant availablility of fake drugs, writes Julian Harris. Yet rather than asking "what can government do?", we should examine how government exacerbates the problem. more....
»	What's wrong in the Mekong? March 02, 2009 As evidence continues to emerge of drug resistance to anti-malarial therapies around the Thai-Cambodian border, Julian Harris and Roger Bate offer a reminder of the likely culprits--counterfeit and substandard drugs. more....
»	South-East Asia 'must clamp down on fake drugs' February 23, 2009 A report on counterfeit drugs in south east Asia quoted Julian Harris of the Campaign for Fighting Diseases. He noted that "very high tax and tariffs" deter high quality drugs, leaving "counterfeiting to fill in the gaps." more....
»	Vested interests in deadly medicines February 22, 2009 After further political wrangling at the WHO's Eexecutive Board meeting in January, Bright Simons argues that the issue of counterfeit drugs should not be clouded by cheap geopolitics. more....
»	Set healthcare free February 15, 2009 Following the release Oxfam's anti-private sector polemic "Blind Optimism", Philip Stevens notes the significant advantages to private sector healthcare delivery--particularly for the rural poor. more....
»	EU false insecticide fears pose real threat to Africa January 25, 2009 Jasson Urbach of Africa Fighting Malaria explains why pesticides are crucial in the fight against the disease - a fight soon to be thwarted by the EU's misguided legislation. more....
»	EU pesticide ban threatens millions around the world January 21, 2009 As the European Union introduces sweeping new controls over the use of pesticides, Richard Tren of Africa Fighting Malaria examines the health consequences for many of the world's poor. more....
»	Insecticide or suffering? January 18, 2009 The European Union should take a history lesson before endangering people in Africa and Asia with its anti-pesticides legislation, argues Gilbert Ross. more....
»	Fake drugs and failed governance January 16, 2009 As the WHO meets in Geneva to attempt consensus on a new definition of "counterfeit drugs", Philip Stevens and Julian Harris argue that the problem is largely caused by bad government, corruption and poor institutions. more....
»	Lancet: Dozens of nations inflated vaccine numbers December 12, 2008 IPN's Philip Stevens comments to the Associated Press on the news that dozens of developing countries exaggerated figures on how many children were vaccinated against diseases. more....