In the UK, it is estimated that as many as four out of five deaths in people under 75 could be prevented.
The total cost of preventable illness in Britain has been calculated as £187 billion (€268 billion), equal to 19 per cent of total GDP.
For every 1 per cent improvement in health outcomes arising from health promotion and prevention, it is estimated that public expenditure could be cut by £190 million (€272 million).
As chronic disease prevalence increases, the cost of treating chronic illness rises. It is estimated that 10 per cent of the Republic's healthcare budget is spent on diabetes; one-half of the spending goes on complications of the disease.
With mounting evidence of the role of lifestyle factors in causing heart disease, diabetes and some cancers, it is clear that health promotion and prevention must be prioritised by the health service.
Health promotion is the responsibility of the Health Service Executive's National Population Health Directorate.
A population health approach promotes and protects the health of the whole population, with a particular emphasis on reducing health inequalities. Investment in health promotion and population health brings with it a broad range of benefits; for the environment, for education and for social services, as well as for health.