The COVID-19 pandemic took an especially heavy toll on people living with noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), highlighting how health emergencies can undermine the very foundations of good health. Challenges, successes, and lessons learned from the pandemic in accessing NCD essential medicines and health products in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) present a valuable opportunity to promote collaboration and leverage the unique capabilities of all sectors and stakeholders to ensure that no person living with NCDs goes without treatment and care.
Let's not forget: COVID-19 may be out of sight, but access to NCD medicines is still out of reach for many. The session will draw on the findings of the WHO report "Access to NCD medicines: emergent issues during the COVID-19 pandemic and key structural factors" which examined the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on access to NCD medicines. Join us for this NCD Hard Talk as keynote speakers and panellists from across government, academia, development partners and donor agencies share their experiences and advice on how the lessons learned from COVID-19 and related health emergencies should be incorporated into plans to ensure more resilient and strengthened access to NCD medicines and health products.
More information can be found in the attached flyer, and speaker details will be shared soon.
Panel moderated by: Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, Technical Lead on COVID-19, WPE, WHO
NCD Hard Talk panellists:
Mr Bashier Enoos, Technical Officer, NCD, WHO
Ms Lisa Hedman, Technical Officer, Special initiatives, Access to Medicines and Health Products
Dr Tereza Kasaeva, Assistant Director-General ad interim, UHC/Communicable and Noncommunicable Diseases Division, Director of the Global TB Programme, WHO
Dr Bente Mikkelsen, Director NCD, WHO
Dr Clive Ondari, Director, Health Products Policy and Standards, WHO
Dr Anslem Okwatum, Diabetes lived experience
Dr Amulya Reddy, NCD advisor, Médecins Sans Frontières
Prof. Prashant Yadav, INSEAD, CGDEV, and Harvard University