Novartis CEO: Global Societal Changes Lead to Chronic Disease Escalation

In an interview with CNBC at the Davos Economic Summit, Novartis CEO Joe Jimenez said the healthcare industry will need to meet the rise in chronic diseases such as diabetes brought on by changes in the global standard of living.  “As the rural populations move to the urban centers…and the incomes go up and they start eating differently and they don’t have the same level of exercise, you’ll see healthcare as a growth industry well into the future.”  He pointed out that China now has 80 million citizens with diabetes, more than the population of Germany.

The CNBC video clip can be seen below.