Strengthening health systems response to address noncommunicable diseases in the South-East Asia Region

Overview

Noncommunicable diseases, which include cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes and chronic respiratory disease, are the leading cause of death in the South-East Asia Region accounting for an estimated 8.5 million deaths each year. Prevention and control of NCDs require a set of actions. Clinical interventions for those at risk of NCDs and for people living with NCDs is an important and critical part of the national NCD response. Health-care systems in Member States in SEAR are not adequately organized to manage the NCD burden resulting from the demographic and epidemiological transition. The presence of lifelong chronic disease and long-term comorbidities requires not just a rethinking of service delivery but also reorientation of the entire health system building blocks. The World Health Organization Regional Office for South-East Asia organized a regional consultation on "Strengthening Health Systems Response to Address NCDs in the South-East Asia Region, Colombo, Sri Lanka, 7–10 June 2016.