GENEVA, Oct. 5 (Xinhuanet) -- The World Health Organization (WHO) said Wednesday as chronic diseases are currently the leading causeof death in the world and the impact is still growing, a global action should be taken to prevent the diseases to save lives.

    In its newly issued report "Preventing Chronic Diseases: a vital investment," the United Nations health agency said that about 17 million people die prematurely each year because of the slow but fatal diseases.

    If immediate and effective measures to be taken to prevent the diseases, the report said, the world could save the lives of 36 million people who would otherwise die by 2015.

    According to the report, chronic diseases are the most severe in developing countries, where 80 percent of deaths occur.

    The economic impact of chronic diseases is also huge. The accumulated loss to India from 2005 to 2015 due to the diseases, for example, is estimated to hit 236 billion US dollars, the report indicated. For Russia, the loss is 303 billion dollars.

    "The cost of inaction is clear and unacceptable. It is vital that countries review and implement health actions we know to reduce premature deaths from chronic diseases," said Lee Jong-Wook,WHO director-general.

    WHO's goal to fight against chronic diseases during the next 10years is to reduce the death rate by 2 percent each year until 2015, the report said. This would prevent a total of 36 million people from dying of chronic diseases.

    In order to achieve the goal, all sectors from governments, private industries, civil societies and communities from all nations should join efforts to fight the diseases, said Catherine le Gales-Camus, WHO assistant director-general of non-communicablediseases. Enditem