Global Leadership in Addressing Chronic Disease

Global health is at a tipping point.

Noncommunicable chronic conditions, such as heart disease and diabetes, are surpassing communicable disease as the world’s primary health concern.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), noncommunicable diseases already account for more than 50 percent of all deaths worldwide and will account for 2/3 of all deaths globally in the next 25 years.

The human and economic impact of chronic disease will be profound in the coming decades. Chronic diseases account for roughly 75 percent of healthcare costs in both advanced and developing economies, according to the World Economic Forum. Nearly 50 percent of those who die from chronic diseases are in their productive years, with associated productivity losses up to 400 percent greater than the cost of treatment.

In developing countries, the WHO estimates that national income losses due to chronic disease could equal the following cumulative totals from 2005 to 2015: China: US$558 billion, India: US$237 billion, Russia: US$303 billion.

The urgency of the global challenge presents a distinct opportunity for Medtronic, compelling us to chart a pathway to help solve some of the world’s most vexing health problems. With expertise in treating a range of chronic illnesses – including heart disease and diabetes, two of the four leading chronic illnesses globally – Medtronic is uniquely positioned to contribute to the World Health Organization’s goal of reducing chronic disease death rates by 2 percent annually through 2015.

We believe we can have the greatest impact by focusing our energies on access, product responsibility, and corporate philanthropy. We strive to lead in collaborative solutions that engage partners in the medical technology industry, healthcare, academia, government, and patient advocacy to alleviate the growing burden of chronic disease.

In addition, Medtronic is increasingly active along the continuum of care, from awareness and prevention through diagnosis, treatment, and management of chronic conditions. We partner frequently with non-governmental organizations that are leading the fight against chronic diseases on a global level, such as the Arrhythmia Alliance, the Federation of European Nurses in Diabetes, the International Diabetes Federation, the International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, and the World Heart Federation.

For example, Medtronic is supporting World Heart Day for the fourth consecutive year, working closely with professional associations, hospitals, and patient organizations in several countries to execute local events focused on public awareness and prevention of heart disease. Orchestrated by the World Heart Federation, World Heart Day reaches a broad variety of employers, hospitals and organizations around the world.