Healthcare in a Changing Climate 2025

Developing solutions to address unmet medical needs for high-priority diseases offers a unique opportunity to significantly reduce the projected39 impacts of climate change on both disease burden and economic losses by 2050 (see Appendix for detailed methodology) . Figure 2 summarizes the human and economic impacts that are potential preventable, broken down into 11 diseases and health impacts: malaria, dengue fever, cholera, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), stunting, hypertension, ischemic heart disease (IHD), fatalities and injuries, heat-related diseases (HRD) and asthma. By 2050, these impacts are projected to cause an additional 14.5 million deaths and cost the global economy $12.5 trillion cumulatively, through productivity losses and treatment costs – comparable to the gross domestic product of Singapore. However, through investment in vaccines, medicines, medical devices, health-tech and climate services, 6.5 million lives could potentially be saved, global economic losses reduced by $5.8 trillion and 1 billion fewer disability-adjusted life years accrued (DALYs) – cumulatively by 2050. Innovative interventions from the life sciences sector — focused on prevention, diagnostics and treatment — could potentially avert up to 49% of the anticipated DALYs lost due to diseases exacerbated by climate change. More effective and accessible interventions, particularly for remote communities, can prevent disease incidences, facilitate faster and more effective treatments, reduce premature mortality, shorten recovery times and eliminate long-term health consequences. Collectively, these efforts could help prevent the loss of approximately 1 billion DALYs (cumulatively) by 2050.2.2 The potential to reduce climate’s impact on health by 2050 Health and economic impacts of climate change, potentially preventable by 2050 (cumulative) FIGURE 2 No measur es Impact of measur esRemaining Malaria Dengue Cholera GAD PTSD Stunti ng Hypertensi on IHD HRD Asthma Fatalities and injuries0.4 0.2 0.2Health impact, DALYbillionsProductivity loss, $trillions No measur es Impact of measur esRemaining0.9 0.4 0.40.22.0 1.01.0 0.1-49% 11.3 5.75.6 1123253 870-49% -23%Deaths, millions 3.0 8.10.914.5 7.96.5 3.60.4 4.60.80.8 1.70.51.3 No measur es Impact of measur esRemainingNo measur es Impact of measur esRemaining-45%Treatment cost, $ billion 0.50.73.5 0.4 0.61.0 0.43.5 0.5 0.2 0.20.1 1.00.91.77.0 565326 25710073 8357 425139691616 1.6 1. See Appendix for detailed methodology. 2. Numbers may not sum precisely to totals due to rounding. Source: World Economic Forum40 and Oliver Wyman analysis of current literature supplemented through expert interview.1billion DALYs by 2050 could be prevented through innovative prevention, diagnostics and treatment. Healthcare in a Changing Climate: Investing in Resilient Solutions 11