Subsidies for improving diet and population health in Russian Federation

Abstract

Abstract Background The insufficient consumption of fruit and vegetable (F&V) is important contributors to main non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Russia lags behind many countries in the world in per capita consumption of F&V. A growing number of countries have implemented subsidies to address the growing burden of dietary-related diseases. The purpose of the study is to assess the potential social and economic impact on mortality and morbidity due to main NCDs of policy to subsidies F&V in Russia. Methods Using a population model of dietary-related diseases and health care costs, we simulated the effect of 10% subsidy on F&V, over the 15 years of the Russian population. We estimated cardiovascular diseases (CVD), diabetes and cancers cases prevented, health-related costs, and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios. Baseline prevalence of the risk factor was derived from the Russian epidemiology survey. Results Subsidies aimed at reducing the price of F&V by 10% can lead to an increase in the consumption of F&V by about 14%, and thereby prevent 37 064 deaths, the projected economic effect due to the prevented deaths will amount to 10.7 billion rubles over 15 years. The number of prevented cases of CVD will be 28 881, type 2 diabetes - 580 cases, cancer - 4025 cases. When calculating the economic effect for the analyzed period, the prevented medical costs for CVD will amount to 147.9 million rubles, for cancer - 86.6 million rubles, for type 2 diabetes - 3 million rubles. The implementation of this measure in the Russian population will allow to “save” 221.6 million rubles related to the payment of disability benefits from the main NCDs and 1.2 billion rubles due to the prevented loss of GDP from disability over 15 years. Thus, the cumulative forecasted effect of this measure in the Russia over 15 years will amount to 11.2 billion rubles. Conclusions The modelling illustrates the potentially large social and economic benefits of subsidies on F&V for improving population health. Key messages The insufficient consumption of fruit and vegetable (F&V) is important contributors to main non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The modelling illustrates the potentially large social and economic benefits of subsidies on F&V for improving population health.