Non-Communicable Diseases

Non-communicable diseases are illnesses that cannot be transmitted from one person to another. The four major groups are cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes.

Unlike infectious diseases, many NCDs develop gradually and require long-term management. Some can be prevented or delayed through healthier lifestyles, early detection and appropriate medical care.

In the Maldives, NCDs account for a substantial majority of deaths and place considerable pressure on the healthcare system.

NCDs are not just a health concern. They have far-reaching consequences for families, the economy and the country's healthcare system.

People living with chronic illnesses may require lifelong medication, regular medical appointments or specialised treatment. Serious conditions such as cancer can force families to travel to Malé or overseas for care, disrupting employment, education and family life.

The burden extends beyond treatment costs, affecting household incomes, productivity and public healthcare expenditure.

Several established risk factors contribute to the development of NCDs, including tobacco use, unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, harmful alcohol use and environmental exposures.

In the Maldives, national health surveys have highlighted widespread tobacco use and inadequate consumption of fruits and vegetables. Screening research has also identified high levels of excess weight and other metabolic risk factors among participants.

However, these findings do not establish precisely how much each factor contributes to the country's disease burden. More local research is needed to better understand these relationships.

Many NCDs can be prevented or their onset delayed, although not every case is avoidable. Genetics, age, environmental conditions and other factors also influence a person's risk.

Avoiding tobacco, maintaining a balanced diet, exercising regularly and managing blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar can significantly reduce the risk of several major NCDs.

Prevention also requires action beyond individual lifestyle choices, including public-health policies, accessible screening services and environments that support healthier living.

Many NCDs develop gradually, sometimes without noticeable symptoms in their early stages.

Conditions such as diabetes and hypertension can remain undetected for years, while some cancers are more treatable when identified early.

Appropriate screening and regular medical assessments can help identify risks or diseases before serious complications develop. The screening required depends on factors such as age, family history and individual medical risk.

Access to specialised healthcare remains uneven across the Maldives.

Patients living outside the capital may need to travel to Malé for diagnostic tests, specialist consultations and treatment. When services are unavailable domestically, some patients must travel overseas.

These journeys can create additional financial and emotional burdens, including accommodation expenses, lost income and prolonged separation from family members.

Expanding diagnostic and treatment services across the atolls could help reduce these disparities.

Although many NCDs become more common with age, the factors contributing to them can emerge much earlier.

The magazine's diabetes screening research highlights elevated metabolic risk factors among adults, alongside tobacco and energy drink consumption across different age groups.

Habits developed during childhood and adolescence can influence long-term health. Early prevention is therefore important even for people who currently feel healthy.

Addressing NCDs requires a coordinated response that places greater emphasis on prevention, early diagnosis, accessible treatment and long-term patient support.

Priorities include strengthening primary healthcare, expanding screening and specialist services outside Malé, reducing exposure to preventable risk factors and improving public-health education.

Reliable disease registries, stronger local research and consistent monitoring are also essential for identifying gaps and evaluating whether national health policies are working.