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Enewspolar The Rising Nepal | Nepal's First English Broadsheet Daily.
3 sources · 4 articles
Started 6 days ago · Updated 6 days ago

Nepal Faces Rising Tobacco Deaths and Health Insurance Strain

Photo · risingnepaldaily.com

Tobacco use is a leading cause of death and disease in Nepal, contributing to nearly 39,200 deaths annually and costing the nation an estimated Rs. 45 billion each year in healthcare expenditures and productivity losses. This escalating health crisis is placing significant pressure on Nepal's national health insurance program, threatening its long-term sustainability due to increased claims for tobacco-related chronic conditions.

  • Tobacco use is linked to a significant increase in deaths, rising from 24,200 in 2019 to nearly 39,200 annually.
  • The economic burden of tobacco-related illnesses amounts to 1.2 percent of Nepal's GDP.
  • High out-of-pocket spending for preventable diseases due to tobacco use pushes many families into poverty.
  • The health insurance system faces growing claims for chronic conditions like cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and tuberculosis, many of which are linked to tobacco use.

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