The United Kingdom is facing a surge in long-term illness rates, which has led to significant economic and social consequences.
Could Double in Coming Years
The United Kingdom is facing a surge in long-term illness rates, leading to significant economic and social consequences.
According to a recent report from the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) and El Economista, an additional 900,000 Britons have become inactive in the workforce since the pandemic began, primarily due to illness. This has resulted in a loss of approximately £5 billion (around $6.2 billion) in annual tax revenues.
The IPPR's findings indicate that if this trend continues, the number of inactive individuals due to long-term illness could rise from 2.8 million to 4.3 million in the coming years.
The report, authored by a commission that includes prominent figures like Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and former health minister Lord James Bethell, emphasizes the broader economic ramifications of this crisis. The rise in illness-related inactivity is contributing to low productivity and sluggish economic growth.
Improves Health could Save $22.6 Billion
The IPPR's research aligns with data from the Office of Budget Responsibility (OBR), which has also highlighted the long-term economic risks posed by a growing number of people suffering from chronic illnesses.
The OBR has previously estimated that the combined effects of a shrinking workforce and increased disability benefits could cost the state €18 billion ($19.4 billion) annually.
The report argues that improving public health could save the National Health Service (NHS) over €21 billion ($22.6 billion) annually by the mid-2030s.
The IPPR urges the government to address this crisis, noting that better health is "the most important medicine" for revitalizing the UK’s economy. Without action, the country’s national debt could balloon to 270% of GDP by the 2070s.
