Global health policy

Integrated health care has to happen

The covid-19 pandemic has illustrated how chances of recovery from a severe infectious disease are strongly influenced by the presence, or not, of a non infectious disease. People without underlying health issues are far less likely to succumb to covid-19. As societies age, health care must better integrate the care of NCDs with that of other diseases. It will save both lives and money.

Most read this month

Landmark discoveries with staggering impact

Amazing advances in medicines hold huge promise for a better world

Fake drugs and how to protect the vulnerable

We face a fundamental change of the cost structure on the supply side and a need for a fundamental change.

Jochen Kreusel

- Market innovation manager in the power grids division at ABB Power

They [the European Commission] are looking at this stuff backwards. I still think they are convinced the short-term market model could work even though they are also starting to realise that you need something parallel, with long term price signals that give investors confidence to invest in infrastructure and allow them to see a decent market return.

Francesco Venturini

- Global head of renewables for Italian utility Enel

Despite tremendous cost decline of wind and solar technologies, electricity prices will probably remain too low to attract the level of investment needed.

Fatih Birol

- Executive director of the International Energy Agency

The greatest barrier to overcome is the integration of variable renewables into electricity systems. This will require developing power system flexibility and also a friendly deployment of variable renewables.

Fatih Birol

- Executive director of the International Energy Agency

Overcoming key barriers to quality diabetes care around the world

Innovations in diabetes treatment and management have made enormous contributions to global health over the past 100 years, but there are still obstacles that must be overcome to slow the growth of the disease and reduce its impact.

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access to medicines, diabetes, global health, ncds

On the steps of recovery

Exploring landmark medical discoveries, and the challenges of ensuring fair and equitable access to their impact.

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global health, medicines, non-communicable diseases, Public Health

Increasing risk factors hurt economic growth

Better prevention of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) could avert millions of years of lost productivity.

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Landmark discoveries with staggering impact

As long ago as 550 BC, Chinese philosopher Confucius told us to “study the past if you would define the future.” In that spirit FORESIGHT Global Health takes a look at how specific medicines for treating non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have evolutionised the prospects and care of people diagnosed with an NCD. Understanding this evolution in medical knowledge shows what research can achieve—and what it can aspire to next.

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Make the link between chronic disease and economic output

As COVID-19 pandemic-priorities escalated, care of non-communicable diseases got pushed aside, particularly in less well off countries. Inevitably, a surge in cases of chronic ill-health is now expected. Regions with pandemic-ravaged economies will struggle to finance the increased healthcare burden. It will be up to politicians to stress the link between good health and economic prosperity and open the financial channels for new investment.

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Treatment by video is here to stay thanks to the pandemic

It took a rampant, highly infectious and deadly virus to pluck delivery of medical treatment out of the past and into the modern world of advanced communications and over-the-screen access to doctor consultations. The market for telemedicine has exploded. Virtual care start-ups are innovating daily to meet demand. In this health care revolution, the biggest beneficiaries could be those who have been most disadvantaged to date.

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Amazing advances in medicines hold huge promise for a better world

The past century has been one of enormous progress in the understanding of human pathology and treatment of disease. We are now looking at a future in which technology and state-of-the-art treatments offer previously unimaginable potential for health care that is specifically targeted to individual patient requirements.

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Introduction: Medicines that changed the world

As the world continues to undergo one of the biggest healthcare upheavals in a generation, it seems to be an appropriate time to look back on an era of exponential growth in scientific knowledge that began with the last major pandemic—and forward to the era of increasingly individualised treatment that lies ahead.

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Special reports

Fake drugs and how to protect the vulnerable

With non-communicable diseases increasingly becoming a major health issue for poorer and wealthier countries alike, securing access to the medicines used to control them is a key concern. Cost, supply and licensing are all challenges. Solutions to a number of the problems encountered are being tested in low-and-middle-income countries in an effort to improve availability.

To manage syndemics think like an octopus

Community health workers key to cost-effective prevention

Building a GPS for doctors – the potential of learning elimination in healthcare

People power as the driver and disruptor for the NCD agenda

Addressing the Unmet Needs of People Living with Diabetes: 100 years after the discovery of insulin

Integrated health care has to happen

Kenya shines light on mental health crisis sweeping Africa

The thyroid, the organ below the radar

A goal without a plan is just a wish – the importance of national cancer control plans

Build health systems where conventional services cannot reach

Reflecting on Women and NCDs in COVID-19 Times

Building Back Better: Investing in healthy populations and resilient health systems for NCDs and Mental Health to be better prepared for future crises

What our editors are reading

Excess Weight & COVID-19 by Public Health England

 Reports

This report provides evidence-based insights on the relationship between excess weight and COVID-19. Evidence has been brought together from UK and international studies published during the pandemic. These have been identified using a pragmatic methodology; the report is not a systematic review. Findings have been contextualised with information on the prevalence, causes, and risks of excess weight. Information on food and drink purchases and physical activity during lockdown is also included.

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Bridging the Gap on NCDs by NCD Alliance

 Reports

Since the first United Nations High-Level Meeting (UN HLM) on NCDs in 2011, the NCD community has been able to point to many successes on the global stage: Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) are recognised as the world’s biggest killer and cause of disability, constituting a global health crisis that requires an urgent policy response. This was acknowledged by world leaders at three UN HLMs on NCDs, meriting a dedicated target in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030.

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NCDs Progress Monitor 2020 by WHO

 Reports

The 2020 Progress Monitor provides data on the 19 indicators detailed in the Technical Note for all of WHO’s 194 Member States. The indicators include setting time-bound targets to reduce NCD deaths; developing all-of-government policies to address NCDs; implementing key tobacco demand reduction measures, measures to reduce harmful use of alcohol and unhealthy diets and promote physical activity; and strengthening health systems through primary health care and universal health coverage.

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