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Health Ministry cannot afford to treat lipid abnormalities

Dec 20, 2009 News

Persons living with diabetes and hypertension in Guyana end up developing abnormal lipid (fat) profiles in their system, including high cholesterol. But the Ministry of Health cannot afford to treat the approximately 12,000 persons who need lipid lowering medicines.
Currently, it costs the Health Ministry $75 million per year to procure the drugs that treat just 1,000 persons. If the 12,000 persons are to be treated, then it would cost between $500 million to $1 billion per year to procure all the drugs.
This is according to Health Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, who in a press statement yesterday noted that just over 60,000 persons are living with diabetes and hypertension in Guyana.
About 55 per cent of these persons are overweight or obese and about 20 per cent of them have abnormal lipid profile, including high cholesterol.
Both these problems (overweight and obesity and high cholesterol) are as a result of poor lifestyle choices, Dr. Ramsammy said.
At presently about 1, 000 of these persons are treated for lipid abnormality, particularly high cholesterol, in the public health sector.
“The lipid-lowering medicines represent only one of thirty-seven medicines that are used in different ways to treat persons living with diabetes and hypertension and their complications,” the Health Minister noted.
He explained that diabetes and hypertension amount for between 13 and 15 per cent of the total health sector budget.
“Because of the enormous cost of providing all persons that require lipid–lowering medicines with these medicines, it is estimated that the health sector will only be in a position to provide about 2000 (one-third) of the eligible persons with lipid-lowering medicines in 2010.
“This would increase our budget for lipid-lowering medicines from $75M to about $150M in 2010. By 2012 this amount is likely to increase to between $400 and $500M per year.”
The Ministry of Health in an effort to control these costs is now working towards promoting lifestyle changes which include improved nutrition and diet, more physical activities and abstinence in tobacco use.
In terms of nutrition and diet, the Ministry is promoting greater use of vegetables and fruits in the everyday diet of the Guyanese population.
In addition, a robust campaign will commence aimed at limiting salt intake.
It was noted that more than 60 per cent of the population presently has an inadequate intake of fruits and vegetables, while more than 50 per cent presently uses an excess of salt in their diet.
“We will promote even more aggressively the Million Mile Challenge so that every Guyanese take on the challenge of contributing to a goal of recording more than two million miles of walking, running, swimming, cycling etc in 2010.”
According to Dr. Ramsammy, unless the population cooperates, the Health Ministry will not be able to sustain the cost of using medicines as a substitute for life – style changes to control illnesses. “In any case using medicines to substitute for positive lifestyles is an unwise and deadly choice.”

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