The cost of non-communicable diseasesSpec 4.2.2.6
In short
The cost of non-communicable diseases is both human and financial, for an individual, a local community, a nation and the world. Human costs include pain, loss of independence and a shorter life. Financial costs include lost income and health service spending on treatment, drugs and operations. Prevention through diet and lifestyle can reduce these costs.
You need to be able to discuss the human and financial cost of these diseases to an individual, a local community, a nation or globally.
| Level | Human cost | Financial cost |
|---|---|---|
| Individual | Pain, loss of independence, a shorter life | Lost income if the person cannot work. Costs of care and travel |
| Local community | Family and friends become carers. Loss of community members | Local businesses lose workers and customers |
| Nation | Many people with a reduced quality of life | Health services pay for treatment, drugs and operations. Lost working days reduce the national income |
| Global | Large numbers of early deaths and illnesses worldwide | Health care and lost work cost large amounts of money across the world |
Prevention through diet and lifestyle can reduce these costs, because many interventions would not be necessary if individuals reduced their risks.
A ‘discuss’ answer needs both human and financial costs and should state who pays: the person, their family, the health service or the country.
Written and checked against the AQA GCSE Combined Science (8464) specification · Updated October 2026