Preventable Diseases: Regulation Over Management

Addiction Economy Thought for Today - I got a letter in the Financial Times on Thursday saying just this - the Labour Party focus on the NHS is all about their managerial problems, not about regulating the harmful industries driving the preventable diseases which overwhelm it.

"The biggest causes of preventable death in the UK are cigarettes, unhealthy and ultra-processed foods, alcohol and gambling. Our research shows there are five drivers of this “addiction economy” — addictive product design, inescapable availability, predatory marketing, disinformation and undermining political action.

All these factors are successfully addressed by regulation as the rapid decline in cigarette use over the past 20 years has shown".

The article here articulates shocking statistics "The ONS data tracks trends at the level of local authorities in “preventable mortality”, which can be avoided through effective public health and “primary prevention” before a person becomes unwell, and in “treatable mortality”, avoidable through timely treatment once a person needs it. expectancy.

"Since the early 2010s, the UK has vied with the US for bottom place in the league table for gains in life."

Again the article focuses on 'treatment' not prevention. It's time we focused on preventing the problems by regulating the harmful products which cause the health effects in the first place.