Capitalizing on the Demographic Transition: Tackling Noncommunicable Diseases in South Asia

Capitalizing on the Demographic Transition Tackling Noncommunicable Diseases in South Asia  Executive Summary

IntroductionIncreasing life expectancy in South Asia is resulting in a demographic transition that can, under the right circumstances, yield dividends through more favorable dependency ratios for a time. With aging, the disease burden shifts toward noncommunicable diseases (NCDs)1 which can threaten healthy aging.

However, securing the gains expected from the demographic dividend—where developing countries’ working and nondependent population increases and per capita income thus rises— is both achievable and affordable through efficiently tacking NCDs with prevention and control efforts.

This book looks primarily at cardiovascular disease (CVD) and tobacco use since they account for a  disproportionate amount of the NCD burden—the focus is strategic, rather than comprehensive. It
considers both country- and regional-level approaches for tackling NCDs as many of the issues and challenges of mounting an effective response are common to most South Asian countries. For some efforts, especially with prevention, regional cooperation offers additional advantages.


The goal of this book is to encourage countries to develop, adopt, and implement effective and timely country and, where appropriate, regional responses that reduce both population-level risk factors and the NCD burden. The work aims to develop
(i) an NCD burden and risk factor profile for all countries and the region as a whole;
(ii) a rationale for public policy and action for NCDs;
(iii) a framework to guide the formulation of public policies and strategies for NCDs;
(iv) a country profile, including capacity and ongoing NCD activities, as well as policy options and actions for NCDs that will help stimulate policy dialogue within and among countries; and
(v) a regional strategy for NCD prevention and control where regional collaboration offers added value.

The book is organized into seven chapters that analyze three key themes.

Chapters 1 and 2 tackle “What is Happening and Its Implications,” and examine the demographic shift toward aging and the impact of the epidemiological shift toward NCDs.

Chapters 3 and 4 address “Why the Need to Act Now” and develop the rationale for urgent actions to prevent and control NCDs.

Chapters 5–7 focus on “How to Respond”. In this theme,

Chapters 5 and 6 examine the evidence base for prevention and control strategies, assess country-level capacity and key accomplishments, and develop policy options for individual countries.

Chapter 7 identifies key areas for regional approaches.
It is hoped that the achievements of this book will be seen as
(i) developing a framework for policy options to identify key areas for strategic country- and regional-level policy and actions;
(ii) bringing together demographic and aging trends, disease and risk factor burden data, alongside analyses of capacities and accomplishments to tackle NCDs; and
(iii) using these inputs to develop policy options for country and regional strategies.