Seven years ago, Roberto Tobar was diagnosed with myocardial infarction and arteriosclerosis. Two years ago, diabetes, when the glucose examination is done, its level was 594 mg/dl – the normal level is 90 to 130. His immune system and kidneys began to collapse.
His private doctor prescribed medications to recover one of his kidneys and stabilize his sugar level. Also, drugs for hypertension, one of which costs Q800 for 20 days. For diabetes, Q3 thousand 800 assigns, because you do not want to use insulin. His monthly treatment, from six to seven medicines, for his conditions is between Q7 thousand to Q8 thousand.
In addition, it has a strict high cost diet. “The human being is well left. I totally neglected what I ate. I lived with great stress, which was damaging me. My metabolic age is 94 years old, ”says Tobar, 45, who also exercises regularly.
Goal 3.4 of the sustainable development objectives is to reduce premature mortality due to chronic noncommunicable (ECNT) diseases for 2030, in people between 30 and 70 years. To achieve this, not only must we prevent the development of these conditions, but to facilitate access to continuous treatments to patients, as their costs are high.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), The projections are not flattering in the region, It will not be reduced by 25% premature mortality for ECNT for the 2016-2025 period. In part, for the unhealthy lifestyle adopted by the population.
More than two thirds of ECNTs are attributable to modifiable risk factors such as overweight and obesity —67.2% of Guatemalans suffers from them, “excessive alcohol intake, inappropriate food, physical inactivity and tobacco consumption.” ECNT are long -lasting and the result of combination of genetic, physiological, environmental and behavioral factors.
WHO emphasizes that millions of people, especially low income, do not have access to measures to prevent or delay the development of ECNT. In addition, according to data from the United Nations, 27.8% of the population in Mesoamerica cannot afford healthy eating.
According to the article Chronic noncommunicable diseases: policies and laws to face them, by Adrián Chávez (2024), among the first causes of deaths in men and women of all ages in Guatemala, at a rate per hundred thousand inhabitants, they are heart disease —55.9—, low respiratory infections —52.6—, Diabetes mellitus —39.4— and renal conditions —35.7.
Also read: The cost of malnutrition in Guatemala exceeds US $ 12 billion annually
Worrying figures
The ECNT impacts not only on the patient’s economy, but the country. In the study The cost of the double burden of malnutrition. Social and economic impact. Guatemalaof ECLAC, INCAP and World Food Program (PMA) (2020), it is claimed that Direct costs generated by overweight and obesity to the Guatemalan public health system in 2018 was US $ 3,596.2 million, Q27 thousand 700 million, which exceeded more than four times social spending on health.
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It must be taken into account that the budget assigned for 2024 to the Ministry of Public Health was Q12 thousand 555 million, And by 2025, Q15 thousand 199 million were allocated. This evidences, says Chavez, who are the Guatemalans who, in reality, assume the treatment costs.
It is projected that future costs for the Guatemalan public health system for 2019-2082 of type 2 diabetes and hypertension will be US $ 157 thousand 338 million.
It is also indicated that The total cost for productivity losses in 2018 represented US $ 7 thousand 807.9 million, which was equivalent to 10.6% of GDP. In addition, costs for loss of productivity due to labor absenteeism related to morbidity and premature deaths attributable to obesity was US $ 96.6 million, 0.13% of GDP.
The cost in health and loss of future productivity From 2019 to 2082 it will be US $ 168 thousand 113.8.
Conditions
Although each case is different, The individual integral treatment of a cancer patient can ascend approximately Q57 thousand – circuit, chemotherapy and radiotherapy— in the Institute of Cancerology (INCÁN), of the National League against Cancer. This cost includes, Oscar Barillas, Public Relations and Incan communicator, complementary medical services for diagnostic effects, depending on complexity, such as biopsies, tomographs, laboratory exams, immunohistochemical tests and pathologies, among others. It must be taken into account, says Barillas, that in the incán these services “are the lowest in the market.”
Also read: What happened to the regulation of the Cancer Law?
Regarding heart disease and hypertension, Alejandro Amado, interventionist cardiologist of the Guatemala Cardiovascular Surgery Unit (UNICAR), A patient with hypertension can go from Q500 to Q1 thousand 200 only in medicines, and if he also has any heart condition, the sum can ascend to Q1 thousand 500. If you have diabetes, you must assign Q800 – for sugar control – to Q1 thousand 300 – if you need insulin. Before the question about what the person does if he cannot cover his treatment, Amado points out that an option is “to use generic drugs, whose quality can decrease by 60%”.
Also read: Suffering a chronic disease in Guatemala has a high price
Also consider the costs of medical consultations, blood tests, electrocardiograms or effort tests. “These diseases affect the person both economically and labor. There are companies that dispense with their services, depending on the seriousness of their diseases, since they spend a lot of time hospitalized ”, Amado refers, who adds that in UNICAR are carried out from two thousand to three thousand heart surgeries a year.
Collateral effect
Patients may need to take free time to receive medical treatment or recover, which affects their productivity, says Rocío DonisCoordinator of the National Program for the Prevention of Chronic Non -Transmissible and Cancer Diseases, of the Ministry of Health and Social Assistance. The loss of a family member by an ECNT can generate economic and emotional dismissal in the family nucleus, he adds.
ECNT requires continuous medical attention and long term, including symptom management, complications and rehabilitation prevention, which INCREMENTA medical consultations, hospitalizations and diagnostic tests that overload health systems, says Donis. Treatments require the availability of specialists – which generates waiting lists – advanced medical equipment, high -cost medicines and training of medical personnel, which increases health services costs, which can result in the reduction of funds available for prevention and primary care programs. A greater investment in prevention, early detection and management of ECNT is required to reduce their long -term impact, says Donis.
Diseases such as diabetes have a high cost in treatment in Guatemala, in addition to having a special diet. (Free Press Photo: Shuttersock).
In addition to diagnostic treatments and tests, they generate indirect expenses, as loss of income due to the inability to work, transport costs to health centers and special food expenses. There are families who are forced to “resort to savings, loans and even sell goods to cover their medical expenses”, and limit themselves in their ability to meet other basic needs such as food, housing and education, says Donis.
Prevention
To reduce risk To suffer from an ECNT, physical activity should be performed moderately to strongly for 30 minutes, five times a week. It is important to maintain healthy eating, including five portions of fruits and vegetables per day, reduce the consumption of sugar and salt, avoid frying, fast food, carbonated drinks and packaged juices, and Drink at least eight glasses a day. In addition, improve access to medical care and strengthen the health system.