The Lancet: Non-communicable diseases: what now?

26 March, 2022

Below is the conclusion of an editorial in this week's Lancet, and a comment from me:

Non-communicable diseases: what now?

The Lancet. Editorial| volume 399, issue 10331, p1201, march 26, 2022

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(22)00567-0

'More importantly, resilient health systems must be created with sufficient capacity for NCD care in a pandemic and post-pandemic world. Information should be the backbone of this reimagination — in particular, expanded diagnostic capacity. The Lancet Commission on diagnostics found that 47% of the global population has little to no access to diagnostics. Accurate information on prevalence of disease — as well as on the availability of resources such as treatments and access to care—will provide the basis for countries to make strategic changes to health systems...'

COMMENT (NPW): Yes, but even more fundamental than diagnostic capacity and information on prevalence is the availability and use of reliable healthcare information that is needed by the general public and by frontline health workers to prevent, diagnose and manage NCDs. HIFA is looking for volunteers to identify examples of lack of availability and use of reliable healthcare information on NCDs.

Neil Pakenham-Walsh, HIFA Coordinator, neil@hifa.org www.hifa.org