NCDs costs Fiji $591 million - Prof Prasad

Non-Communicable Diseases are costing the country about $591 million and this is an underestimation.

This has been stated by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Professor Biman Prasad while speaking during the Transforming Primary Health Care in Fiji workshop at Novotel Hotel in Lami today.

Professor Prasad says the government is paying dearly to look after our people, but is also paying dearly for the loss of productivity, the loss of our labour force and the loss of skills that are always difficult.

He says the government has recognised this and has increased the budget for health by about $50 million because they believe that as a government, they need to ensure that adequate resources are provided.

Professor Prasad says as a government, they are determined and have briefed Permanent Secretaries of different Ministries that they should start thinking about the next budget and should start planning for it.