Strategic Technical Advisory Group for Non-Communicable diseases (NCD), WHO makes key recommendations to reduce the burden of NCD
The strategic technical advisory group (STAG) of WHO Geneva on NCD met virtually on August 14th and 15th. More than 30 experts from different parts of the world participated in the discussions. Dr Jeyaraj D Pandian, President Elect, WSO and Dr Bo Norrving, Past President WSO attended the meeting. Dr Jeyaraj D Pandian co-chaired the meeting with Dr Jennifer Cohn. Dr Bente Mikkelsen, Director NCD Department I Division for UHC/Communicable Diseases and NCDs moderated the sessions. The following key recommendations were submitted by the STAG to WHO:
- Member countries need to accelerate the national responses to implement WHO cost effective interventions and best buys in Appendix 3
- Member countries to contextualize the UHC Packages for NCDs
- Urgent need on financing, resource allocation and workforce capacity building
- Strengthen the emergency responses to NCDs such as rapid evaluation of heart attack and stroke patients to provide time sensitive treatments.
- Partnership with private health sector and to include NCD coverage in private insurance schemes.
- Focus interventions which can lead to rapid returns (e.x. stroke units) as per countries financial capacity
The above recommendations will be reviewed and will be taken up in the WHA 2024.