投资口腔健康全球承诺的经济合理性（英）

The Economic Rationale for a Global Commitment to Invest in Oral HealthW H I T E P A P E RM A Y 2 0 2 4In collaboration with the American Dental Association, Colgate-Palmolive Company and Henry ScheinContentsImages: Getty Images© 2024 World Economic Forum. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system.Disclaimer This document is published by the World Economic Forum as a contribution to a project, insight area or interaction. The findings, interpretations and conclusions expressed herein are a result of a collaborative process facilitated and endorsed by the World Economic Forum but whose results do not necessarily represent the views of the World Economic Forum, nor the entirety of its Members, Partners or other stakeholders.ForewordExecutive summaryIntroduction1 Oral health: Critical for overall health and well-being2 Better oral health lowers overall healthcare costs3 Oral health is a key driver of economic well-being4 The global burden of oral disease is growing5 When it comes to unmet healthcare needs, oral health stands out6 The cost of oral disease to the global economy is substantial7 The high level of unmet oral healthcare needs is rooted in health policy choices8 Moving forward: The need for a global commitment to investing in oral healthConclusionContributorsEndnotes34679101213151619212224The Economic Rationale for a Global Commitment to Invest in Oral Health2ForewordMore than 80 years ago, the World Health Organization (WHO) asserted that “the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being.” At that time, and even today, too few clinicians outside of the dental profession would include oral health in any definition of a “standard of health,” reflecting an age-old separation of oral health from medicine and general health that has compromised efforts to stem the tide of oral disease and keep people healthy. As this white paper reports, almost half the world’s population is impacted by oral diseases that interfere with daily function and put them at higher risk of and from other systemic illnesses such as diabetes, stroke, heart and respiratory diseases, and even some cancers. The cost of oral diseases is staggering, with estimates putting the direct treatment costs plus productivity losses at more than $710 billion each year. Investing in oral health pays dividends in the form of better oral health and well-being, improved overall health and economic growth. Yet oral health has remained a neglected global health challenge – until now. A global consensus is gaining ground that oral health is integral to overall health, and critical to our ability to live healthy and productive lives. A tipping point came in 2022 with the adoption of the WHO’s landmark global strategy on oral health, with the nations of the world f