Despite these achievements in health outcomes, a number of challenges are still evident and growing. Jordan has one of the world's highest rates of non- communicable diseases (such as diabetes), typically caused by lifestyle choices. It is estimated that more than 30% of average healthy life years in Jordan is lost due to early mortality, sickness, and disability. This result is the lowest score among Jordan’s benchmark group of countries and third lowest in region (ahead of only Iraq and Syria). The economic consequences and costs are undoubtedly significant and growing. These factors contribute to lower workforce participation rates and higher costs to the public healthcare system, especially for employers due to worker absenteeism, earlier retirement and lower overall productivity. Figure 5: Relative Health Performance Disa Jordan Lithuania oe Bulgaria Hngs n Ueeas Finland Ireland Switzerland ‘Singapore Health Outcomes — Relative Performance Adjusted LifeYe Diabetes comparative Camesr comparative of popula 2012, per £09,000 of poputation Jordan Ireland 2079) Singa ee Switzerland a0 Hungary Hun 2054 Switzerland 2368 Finland von Lithuant aio Ireland Uruguay a0 Bulgaria Btpars Sey Lithuania Soca fRE 748 Georgia ytd rE + men fr dene ph ne yr th dy ny dn, Preventing non-communicable diseases requires a national preventative health care campaign to encourage Jordanians to improve their lifestyles, eating patterns and health consciousness. Further improvements in the quality and cost of care in the healthcare system are also key priorities. The majority of healthcare institutions in the Jordan are not accredited to international standards. Only 45% of military hospitals, 16% of Ministry of Health hospitals and 13% of private hospitals are accredited today. 1.1.2 Education Over many decades, Jordan has established a regional and international reputation for the quality of its education system. It is one of our major national assets and a source of national pride. Educational ‘outcomes, the knowledge, skill and attainment levels of our people, is vital to the cohesion and vibrancy of our society and strength and competitiveness of our economy. Our education system helps to reaffirm our cultural identity and prepare our young people to be responsible and active citizens. Nevertheless, the available evidence suggests that Jordan's education system has begun to decline, particularly in the public school system. In general, education outcomes ~ the levels of achievement attained by students moving through and graduating from the national school and university system suggest a decline in the standards of quality and excellence and a steady erosion of what was once a key source of national competitive advantage. The measures and reforms that have been implemented by the Ministry of Education over the past two years, particularly the reconsideration of high school examination, the ongoing review of the cross-cutting educational disciplines and the possible adoption of an approach of independent evaluation of the educational process outputs for all educational levels, are all steps in the right direction to improve the quality of the education system and restore its reputation.