Dying Too Young: Addressing Premature Mortality and Ill Health Due to Non-Communicable Diseases and Injuries in the Russian Federation (2005)

Dying Too Young: Addressing Premature Mortality and Ill Health Due to Non-Communicable Diseases and Injuries in the Russian Federation (2005) shows that non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and injuries are the leading causes of death, illness, and disability in Russia. This report assesses the factors associated with the onset of these conditions, as well as the demographic, financial and economic consequences of NCDs and injuries, summarizes relevant evidence and emerging lessons from international experience, proposes a comprehensive program for addressing this problem, and projects the health and economic gains that could result from such a program./.../

Medical costs push millions of people into poverty across the globe

WHO | Medical costs push millions of people into poverty across the globe
Each year 100 million people slide into poverty as a result of medical care payments. Another 150 million people are forced to spend nearly half their incomes on medical expenses. That is because in many countries people have no access to social health protection -- affordable health insurance or government-funded health services.

Paradoxically, people in the world’s poorest countries contribute relatively more for health care than those in wealthy industrialized nations. In Germany, for example, where the average GDP per capita is US$ 32 860 and almost everyone has social health protection, 10% of all medical expenses nationwide are borne by households. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, by contrast, where GDP per capita is only US$ 120 and where social health protection is scant, about 70% of the money spent on medical care is paid directly by households./.../