Systemic Solutions for Addressing Non-Communicable Diseases in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

• Main Authors: Ganju A, Goulart AC, Ray A, Majumdar A, Jeffers BW, Llamosa G, Cañizares H, Ramos-Cañizares IJ, Fadhil I, Subramaniam K, Lim LL, El Bizri L, Ramesh M, Guilford M, Ali R, Devi RD, Malik RA, Potkar S, Wang YP
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dove Medical Press 2020-07-01
• Series: Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare
• Subjects: low and middle-income countries; multisectoral; non-communicable diseases; public-private partnership; universal health coverage
• Online Access: https://www.dovepress.com/systemic-solutions-for-addressing-non-communicable-diseases-in-low--an-peer-reviewed-article-JMDH

Aakash Ganju,1 Alessandra C Goulart,2 Amrit Ray,3 Anurita Majumdar,4 Barrett W Jeffers,3 Gloria Llamosa,5 Henry Cañizares,6 Ianne Jireh Ramos-Cañizares,6 Ibtihal Fadhil,7 Kannan Subramaniam,8 Lee-Ling Lim,9 Luna El Bizri,10 M Ramesh,11 Mathew Guilford,12 Raghib Ali,13 Ratna Duddi Devi,14,15 Rayaz A Malik,16 Shekhar Potkar,17 Yuan-Pang Wang18 1Executive Office, Saathealth, Mumbai, India; 2Center for Clinical and Epidemiological Research, University Hospital, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; 3Research, Development and Medical, Upjohn – a Pfizer Division, New York, NY, USA; 4Research, Development and Medical, Emerging Markets, Upjohn – a Pfizer Division, Singapore; 5Mexican Neurology and Psychiatry Society, Mexico City, Mexico; 6Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, Cebu City, Philippines; 7Eastern Mediterranean NCD Alliance, Kuwait City, Kuwait; 8Research, Development and Medical, Upjohn – a Pfizer Division, Sydney, Australia; 9Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; 10School of Pharmacy, Lebanese University, Hadath, Lebanon; 11Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore, Singapore; 12Executive Office, Common Health, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; 13Public Health Research Center, New York University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; 14Executive Office, DakshamA Health and Education, Gurgaon, India; 15Board of Directors, International Alliance of Patient Organizations, London, England; 16Weill Cornell Medicine, Doha, Qatar; 17Research, Development and Medical, Upjohn – a Pfizer Division, Dubai, United Arab Emirates; 18Instituto de Psiquiatria (LIM-23), Hospital das Clinicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilCorrespondence: Kannan SubramaniamResearch, Development and Medical, Upjohn – a Pfizer Division, Sydney, NSW 2000, AustraliaTel [phone]Email [e-mail]: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have been on the rise in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) over the last few decades and represent a significant healthcare concern. Over 85% of “premature” deaths worldwide due to NCDs occur in the LMICs. NCDs are an economic burden on these countries, increasing their healthcare expenditure. However, targeting NCDs in LMICs is challenging due to evolving health systems and an emphasis on acute illness. The major issues include limitations with universal health coverage, regulations, funding, distribution and availability of the healthcare workforce, and availability of health data. Experts from across the health sector in LMICs formed a Think Tank to understand and examine the issues, and to offer potential opportunities that may address the rising burden of NCDs in these countries. This review presents the evidence and posits pragmatic solutions to combat NCDs.Keywords: low- and middle-income countries, multisectoral, non-communicable diseases, public–private partnership, universal health coverage