Dubai - Mubasher: Diabetic patients in the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) region are expected to soar 110% in number by 2045, costing the region $35.5 billion, according to a report released Colliers International.
By the year, 2045 diabetic patients in MENA may reach 82 million, coming second after Africa, which will increase mortality and have a negative impact on productivity, along with burdening the GDPs of these countries due to the boost of the healthcare expenditure, the report found.
“The advancement of communication technology, telehealth, and application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is now playing a critical role in management of chronic illnesses such as diabesity and obesity,” Arab Health’s exhibition director Ross Williams said.
Diabetes has a very expensive bill in the MENA, which reaches $21.3 billion.
Moreover, eight countries in the region have high obesity ratio among adults ranging from 27% to 40% of the population including Kuwait, Qatar, Egypt, KSA, Bahrain, the UAE, Jordan, and Lebanon, the report’s data showed.
“The economic and societal impact of the epidemic is a catalyst for the entire healthcare industry to come together to offer collective solutions to this global problem,” Williams stated.
