A large audience joined a lively discussion on how future pandemic planning needs to take account of people living with non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The overarching question was whether people living with NCDs should be considered a ‘key population’ when it comes to pandemic response and preparedness, given that those living with NCDs have been some of the hardest hit by COVID-19.
The term ‘key population’ has been developed by the Global Fund to describe populations that experience both increased impact from HIV, TB and malaria and decreased access to services.
Is this term helpful to ensure better integration of NCDs when it comes to pandemic response and preparedness? Listen in to this panel of experts to hear their views:
- John-Arne Røttingen, Ambassador for Global Health, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Norway
- Thaksaphon Thamarangsi, Director, International Health Policy Program, Government of Thailand
- Raji Tajudeen, Head, Division of Public Health Institutes and Research, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Ethiopia
- Cecilia Oh, Programme Advisor, HIV Health and Development Group, UNDP Thailand
- Tom Bollyky, Director of the Global Health Program, Council on Foreign Relations, Washington, D.C., USA
The session, Identifying and responding to the needs of vulnerable groups for pandemic preparedness and response: are people living with non-communicable diseases ‘key populations’?, was an official side event of the 2022 Prince Mahidol Awards Conference organized by the Secretariat of the United Nations Multi Partner Trust Fund on NCDs and Mental Health.