Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are among the leading causes of death and disability worldwide, posing an immense burden on healthcare systems, economies, and individuals—especially in countries with a low Human Development Index (HDI). Recognising the urgency of addressing this crisis, the World Health Organization (WHO) has developed strategies and recommendations to enhance the prevention, treatment, and management of NCDs.
Understanding WHO’s Guidelines for NCD Management
The WHO’s guidelines for NCD management offer actionable strategies, focusing on systemic interventions and measurable outcomes.
These guidelines have profound implications for global health, shaping how organisations work to address NCD challenges, including procurement, access to quality-assured NCD medicines, and sustainable healthcare solutions.
1. The WHO’s Implementation Roadmap 2023–2030 against NCDs
The WHO Implementation Roadmap provides a structured framework to help countries meet global NCD targets. It builds on the Political Declaration of the Third High-Level Meeting on NCDs and highlights the following key pillars:
- Accelerating National Action: Support governments in developing tailored national policies, considering unique contexts such as healthcare system capacity and prevalent NCDs, with a goal of at least 80% of countries having national NCD action plans by 2030.
- Strengthening Health Systems: Train healthcare workers in NCD management and scale up digital health interventions for NCD screening and monitoring, with the goal of integrating NCD management into primary healthcare (PHC) systems in at least 70% of countries by 2025.
- Expanding Scope: Promote cross-sectoral collaboration to implement clean air initiatives, particularly in urban areas and integrate mental health services into NCD-focused Primary Healthcare (PHC) systems with the goal of addressing 50% of emerging NCD-related risks in national NCD frameworks by 2027.
- Stakeholder Collaboration: Encourage innovative financing, such as blended finance models and develop public-private partnerships to expand access to essential medicines and diagnostics.
For a detailed overview of the WHO’s roadmap and its strategic objectives, visit the WHO Implementation Roadmap 2023–2030.
2. The WHO’s Essential Medicines List (EML)
The WHO EML identifies critical medicines needed to address priority health needs globally. For NCDs, this includes key treatments for conditions like diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory illnesses, and cancer. Making these medicines accessible and affordable is pivotal in reducing the global NCD burden.
These recommendations serve as a roadmap for healthcare organisations, funders, and governments striving to alleviate the NCD crisis. However, implementing these strategies requires overcoming numerous challenges, such as limited funding, fragmented supply chains, and inequities in resource distribution.
How Do Healthcare Organisations Align with WHO’s Vision
At the core of WHO’s recommendations is a commitment to equitable, quality healthcare—a principle that resonates deeply with IDA Foundation and NCDconnect.
1. Ensuring Access to Quality-Assured NCD medicines
IDA Foundation is a social enterprise driven by the mission to bridge the gap in access to essential, quality-assured medicines and medical goods in countries in need. Our Quality Assurance (QA) system reflects WHO guidelines through:
- Supplier Audits: Ensuring compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).
- Product evaluation and approval: Detailed evaluation of product development data and manufacturing dossier before allowing any new product into the portfolio
- Ongoing Monitoring: Conducting thorough quality checks from production to delivery.
- Independent Testing: Partnering with accredited laboratories to verify product quality.
- Qualification Criteria: All our products meet stringent qualifications such as WHO prequalification, approval from stringent regulatory authorities (SRA), or IDA-qualified status through our comprehensive audit and supplier development programs.
By consistently meeting these stringent quality standards, IDA Foundation actively contributes to WHO’s vision of improving access to safe, effective, and affordable medicines. Learn more about our commitment to Quality.
2. NCDconnect: A Collaborative Platform to Enhance NCD healthcare in low-HDI countries
Co-developed by IDA Foundation and Solvoz, NCDconnect was designed to enhance the procurement of essential NCD medicines and medical devices in low-HDI countries. The platform offers tailored solutions for conditions like diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and chronic respiratory illnesses with:
- Curated Medicine Catalogues: A comprehensive range of quality-assured NCD medicines and medical devices addressing all four main NCDs, featuring treatments aligned with the WHO Essential Medicines List (EML).
- Collaborative Supply Chain Solutions: Simplifying procurement processes by connecting suppliers, buyers, and healthcare stakeholders.
- Digital Supply Chain Integration: Supporting WHO’s call for innovative digital health interventions by enabling efficient, transparent, and cost-effective sourcing.
- Demand Aggregation: Consolidating procurement needs into a single-source platform, optimising cost savings and supply efficiency while reducing fragmented supply chains.
NCDconnect also assists national health systems in meeting Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets by adapting to the unique challenges of each country’s NCD management strategies.
Moving Forward: A Commitment to Addressing NCDs
The WHO guidelines for NCDs emphasise the urgent need for coordinated action against these chronic diseases. NCDconnect actively contributes to this collaborative approach, supporting your efforts in simplifying access to quality-assured NCD supplies while adapting to the complexities of healthcare systems in low-HDI countries.
Through collaborative procurement strategies, NCDconnect’s commitment is to bridge the treatment gap for NCDs, ensuring that patients in underserved regions can access the care they deserve.