In response to the crippling impact of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) on the population, the National Insurance Corporation (NIC) recently undertook an intensive two-day health and wellness workshop that drew enthusiastic participation from a diverse range of community stakeholders.
The Saint Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association (SLHTA), which represents a significant number of hotel employees and service providers, was among the key participants at the National Wellness & Productivity Workshop. This workshop aimed to implement a multi-sectoral strategy to address non-communicable diseases, which now account for 82% of deaths in Saint Lucia.
“NCDs are persistent and devastating. They transcend titles, communities, and income levels. This is exactly why a collective response is crucial. The SLHTA is fully committed to fostering a healthier Saint Lucia,” an SLHTA official emphasized,
During the conference, NIC Director Matthew Mathurin underscored the agency’s commitment to social protection for the Saint Lucian population and its integral role in national development.
He stressed the necessity of nurturing “a mentally and physically healthy population,” asserting that the Health and Productivity Workshop is just the beginning of a larger initiative by the NIC to tackle the scourge of NCDs on the island.
Mathurin recalled the impactful message shared by Dr. David L. Katz at an International Social Security Association conference in Baltimore in 2014, focusing on how nutrition and lifestyle changes can prevent chronic diseases.
“His insights resonated deeply, and I recognized the urgent need to bring this message back to Saint Lucia,” he said.
While the original plan to broadcast this message broadly did not materialize, Mathurin noted, “The ambition has evolved into a comprehensive, multi-branch approach. This workshop marks the first step towards realizing that vision.”
He asserted, “This initiative is vital for the NIC’s survival, addressing the existential threat posed by NCDs to the Social Security System. However, to achieve this goal, we must implement interventions that benefit the entire population.”
Focusing on the national workforce and pension benefits, Mathurin detailed the alarming trend of the ‘Threat of Sickness Benefits Cost’:
– In 1980, NIC (previously NIS) paid just $28,000 in sickness claims. By 1990, it skyrocketed to $363,000.
– The expenditures rose further, reaching $1.2 million in 1999, $3.3 million by 2009, and $9.7 million by 2019. For 2024, we are on track for $14.5 million.
Mathurin stated firmly, “This translates to an average 115% increase every 10 years. In simpler terms, expenditures on sickness benefits are roughly doubling every 6.5 years. The number of sickness claims has risen from 700 claims in 1990 to an expected 26,000 by June 2025, representing a doubling approximately every 7 years.
“The trend is clear, and it is alarming. An ailing population threatens the viability of our labor force. The consequences for healthcare costs and the sustainability of our Social Security fund—and indeed the government’s healthcare budgets—are serious.”
To confront these grim realities, nations must act swiftly to provide effective treatment for their citizens and address NCD health challenges head-on.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), NCDs are the leading cause of death and disability globally, responsible for 75% of all non-pandemic related deaths.
Moreover, 73% of NCD-related deaths occur in low and middle-income countries like Saint Lucia. A 2017 Stanford University report estimates that the global economic burden of NCDs could reach a staggering $47 trillion between 2010 and 2030. Domestically, a 2006 World Bank study found that more than 50% of the senior population (60 years and older) in Saint Lucia suffers from one of four major NCD conditions, highlighting that the actual burden of NCDs far exceeds a mere 2.8% of GDP.
Mathurin emphasized, “It is frightening to consider what that statistic looks like now, seventeen years later.”
He emphasized that Dr. Katz’s presentation to the Social Security practitioners in Baltimore unequivocally estimated that if the trend in sickness events is not contained, “it will adversely affect the sustainability of Social Security Systems in the Americas and Caribbean, with some going broke within a few decades due to skyrocketing sickness claims and healthcare-related costs.”
The article will continue in the next publication.