India has the second-largest NCD burden in the world, and the number of patients is expected to reach 100 million by 2030
Mental health is huge contributor to economic burden of non-communicable diseases in India. Its prevalence is very high as one in every five Indians is suffering from some form of mental disorder. Especially in productive age of 20 to 40 mental health illness rate is very high among Indians.
According to Anjan Bose, Secretary General, NATHEALTH, among non-communicable diseases, mental health is the largest contributor to economic loss in India. It is estimated that mental health will accord 20 per cent of economic loss from NCDs 2012-2030 which is estimated at $6.2 trillion. Bose further added that mental health needs must be urgently addressed.
According to Dr Samir Parikh, Director, Mental Health & Behavioral Sciences, Fortis Hospital, Mental health illness’s indirect costs are higher than direct costs. This includes costs of care (like medication, clinic visits (fees), hospitalisation, diagnostic services, residential care, community services, rehabilitation and non-medical costs like transportation for treatment and care) are direct costs. These are the value of resources used in the treatment of disease. Indirect costs are value of resources lost as a result of illness.
Indirect costs include costs due to reduced supply of labour (unemployment), reduced educational attainment, expenses for social supports, costs associated with consequences like chronic disability, homelessness, crime, suicide, homicide, caregiver burden, value of family caregiver’s time, medical complications of mental illnesses, early mortality, substance use and other unquantifiable costs like emotional burden on family etc. Other costs include those for health awareness campaigning.
It also affects economy through early retirements, negative expectations regarding employment and reduced productivity. On the whole it leads to increase of expenditure for health system, individuals and households.
On the other hand, India has deficit of psychiatrists for timely cure of these ailments which is one of the major factor for increasing the burden on economy. As per an estimate, India has around 4000 psychiatrists, which is limited to urban areas, rural communities do not have access to mental illness treatment at early stage due to non-availability. Awareness of early detection and prevention is very low hence maximum cases the condition gets ignored until advanced stage.
There is an emergent need to shift from curative approach to preventive, said Dr Samir Parikh.
In order to control the situation and decrease the economic burden there is need to spread awareness of mental health illness through public private partnership. The corporate India should increase funding in mental illness considering its impact of our economy.
The situation is grave, the Indian healthcare system needs to wake up to this reality.
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