On behalf of ProCor, I visited Washington DC on July 13, 2009 to participate in a legislative briefing for the US Congressional Global Health Caucus. The briefing convened representatives from the Senate and House of Representatives dozens of NGOs, key US government offices, corporations, and international organizations like the World Bank and WHO.
The purpose of the briefing was to increase awareness of chronic diseases in low- and middle-income countries.
The panel of experts included:
- Dr. Rachel Nugent, Deputy Director for Global Health, Center for Global Development
- Dr. Gerard Anderson, Professor of Health Policy and Management, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University
- Dr. K.S. Reddy, President, Public Health Foundation of Indian
- Dr. Thomas Gaziano, Assistant Professor, Harvard Medical School.
Sir George Alleyne, Chancellor of the University of the West Indies, was the distinguished and eloquent moderator of the discussion. In opening the briefing, he noted that "Nowhere in the Millennium Development Goals are noncommunicable diseases mentioned. This is not 'my' disease or 'your' disease. It has been neglected and we must pay attention to it."
Thank you to Trevor Gunn, Director of International Relations, Medtronic and Adjunct Professor, School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University, who organized the briefing, for providing the following summary of the discussion.
Catherine Coleman, Editor in Chief, ProCor
Summary of key points:
- Chronic and non-communicable diseases are a worldwide problem, impacting men, women and children of varying ages, races, and income categories.
- Many myths surround chronic and non-communicable diseases, from the nature of the disease to the characteristics of people who develop symptoms. In most cases, successful, cost-effective interventions have been identified and tested. A lack of political will and funding are preventing the execution of these programs.
- There is some overlap in the treatment and prevention of communicable and non-communicable disease. Treating both is important--one should not come at the cost of the other. Building health systems could directly combat the "double burden of disease" imposed by overlaying non-communicable disease burden on an already severe infectious disease burden. Programs or public health goals, previously only measured by communicable disease variables (as HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria) should expand the range of measurements to include non-communicable diseases.
- To raise awareness and direct funding toward intervention, the issues of non-communicable and chronic diseases need to be framed in a manner that is accessible to the general public and to governments. A new Millennium Development Goal for NCDs is not necessary. We can simply add "and other diseases" to existing, disease-restrictive (HIV/AIDS, etc.) MDGs related to child and maternal health.
-US involvement, starting with public recognition of the need for addressing non-communicable and chronic disease from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, or the US State Department will have a significant impact on donor willingness to participate in efforts to reduce these diseases.
- In addition to health consequences, chronic and non-communicable disease have a significant impact on the productivity and earning potential of individuals and consequently on a country's GDP.
- Medical device, diagnostic, and pharmaceutical companies can contribute by further advancing lower-cost and easier-use equipment and medications.
Moderator Closing Remarks Sir George Alleyne, MD (Director Emeritus, PAHO/WHO):
- Non-communicable and chronic disease is not just a problem in the US but is a rapidly growing global problem.
- Non-communicable disease has a significant impact on the economic 'bottom line' at both a macro and micro level, impacting the earning capacity of countries and individuals.
- Aid organizations and governments have identified the interventions needed to prevent disease and reduce their impacts. But they need to be implemented.
- The United States should take initiative and demonstrate leadership in bringing the issue of chronic and non-communicable disease to the forefront. No- or low-cost ways such as speaking at the UN General Assembly will carry tremendous impact.
For more information, contact:
Trevor Gunn, Director, International Relations
Medtronic (Washington, DC) Telephone: +1 202 442 3655 or email: Trevor.Gunn@medtronic.com
&
Adjunct Professor, School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University/ GunnT@georgetown.edu
We welcome your comments.
Catherine Coleman
Editor in Chief. ProCor | |
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