Agency: Globally, Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes are responsible for nearly 80 percent of deaths, claiming around 41 million lives each year, with 77 percent occurring in low- and middle-income countries. Bhutan mirrors this global trend, with the Ministry of Health (MoH) reporting that 72 percent of deaths in the country are caused by NCDs, making them the single largest health challenge nationwide.
Chief Program Officer at the Ministry of Health, Laigden Dzed, said, “72 percent of deaths in Bhutan are due to NCDs, and cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of NCD deaths.”
Cardiovascular diseases alone account for 28 percent of deaths in Bhutan.
He said that this is because of the changing lifestyles, dietary habits, reduced physical activity, and the harmful use of alcohol and tobacco.
MoH mentioned that lifestyle-related risk factors remain a major concern. Around 31.4 percent of adults use tobacco, increasing their vulnerability to cancer, heart disease, and respiratory conditions.
Harmful alcohol consumption affects 40.2 percent of the population, contributing to liver disease, cardiovascular problems, cancers, and mental health challenges.
He also said that physical inactivity is reported in 18.3 percent of Bhutanese adults, resulting in obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. Dietary habits are also troubling, with 74.6 percent consuming fewer than five servings of fruits and vegetables per day, depriving the body of essential nutrients.
Metabolic risk factors further compound the problem. Raised blood pressure affects 30.3 percent of adults, while 5.6 percent have elevated blood glucose, increasing the likelihood of diabetes-related complications.