Government Announce Action on Major Conditions & Diseases
The Government has announced a new strategy on major conditions which contribute to the burden of disease.
In a statement to parliament, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Steve Barclay listed the major conditions of interest, which together account for 60% of total Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) in England:
- Cardiovascular disease (including strokes, diabetes)
- Cancers
- Mental health
- Dementia
- Respiratory diseases
- Musculoskeletal disorders
The strategy aims to increase healthy life expectancy and alleviate the pressure on the health system, yet it is unclear how it will go about doing this and where prevention sits within this. Prevention should be a key priority in public health improvement, as highlighted in the previous Health Ministers ‘Prevention is better than cure’ Report. Identifying potential health issues as early as possible will make it easier to manage or postpone the onset of these conditions and therefore should not be forgotten.
Further details on the Strategy are yet to be released, but will be consulted on, and potentially published later this year.
