“…IAPO welcomes the draft action plan as an effective guide to the prevention and control of NCDs. We note that the action plan encourages the exploration for potential synergies with other NCDs (including for example neurological, musculoskeletal and mental health disorders). This will maximise opportunities to prevent and manage all chronic diseases. In addition, IAPO supports the action plan’s identification of the importance of universal health coverage and the acknowledgement that NCDs are a challenge to social and economic development.

The action plan highlights the importance of cross-sector partnerships in the prevention and management of NCDs and the full and active participation of people living with these diseases. However, the potential of civil society and in particular, patients’ organizations, is not explored fully enough in the action plan. Patients’ organizations are key stakeholders who provide a wide range of healthcare services such as health literacy training, health promotion advice, and support for managing conditions and accessing treatment. IAPO encourages WHO to expand on the proposed actions for the international community, to reflect the wide range of work that civil society and patients’ organizations do to prevent and manage non-communicable diseases.

The inclusion of the global monitoring framework within the action plan is welcomed by IAPO. However, the overall objectives of the action plan and the framework are not joined up effectively. The objectives, targets and indicators need to be fully integrated and complement each other. For example, objective four of the action plan states that a strengthened health system should aim to improve early detection on NCDs, yet the indicator on the availability of selected essential basic diagnostics for NCD screening has been removed from the global monitoring framework. IAPO suggests that the global monitoring framework and the action plan are fully integrated to maximise their impact.”

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Note to Editors:
About IAPO: IAPO is the only global alliance representing patients of all nationalities across all disease areas and promoting patient-centred healthcare worldwide. Our members are patients’ organizations working at the local, national, regional and international levels to represent and support patients, their families and carers. IAPO has over 200 members which span over 50 countries and 50 disease areas and through its membership represents an estimated 365 million patients worldwide.

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For further information, please contact:
Mr Jeremiah Mwangi, Policy & External Affairs Director, IAPO
T: +44 20 7250 8278; Email: jeremiah@patientsorganizations.org
Website: www.patientsorganizations.org