Journal article synthesizes key findings from national NCDI Poverty Commissions

An original article published in Global Health: Science and Practice synthesizes key findings from national NCDI Poverty Commissions established in 16 low- and lower-middle-income countries to determine an expanded set of priority noncommunicable diseases and injuries (NCDI) and recommend cost-effective, equitable health sector interventions to address them.

The study, conducted by the Lancet NCDI Poverty Commission Secretariat and representatives from the 16 national NCDI Poverty Commissions, includes a review and synthesis of findings from National Commissions that had completed Phases 1A and 1B of the four-phase national commission proces; assessment of the NCDI burden of disease and expenditure (1A); and priority-setting for NCDI conditions and health-sector interventions (1B).

In addition, semistructured surveys and qualitative interviews with national commission representatives were used to gauge the impact of the Commissions’ work in several domains, including: increasing understanding of NCDIs of poverty; informing national planning and implementation of health-sector interventions; and improving governance and coordination of NCDIs.

Key findings highlight National Commission priorities and impact

Employing a priority-setting framework that considered cost-effectiveness, priority to the worse off (equity), and financial risk protection, the NCDI Poverty Commissions prioritized a wide range of NCDI conditions and health-sector interventions.

Fifteen conditions were prioritized by all of the commissions that completed the exercise, including asthma, breast cancer, cervical cancer, diabetes mellitus type 1, diabetes mellitus type 2, epilepsy, hypertensive heart disease, intracerebral hemorrhage, ischemic heart disease, ischemic stroke, rheumatic heart disease, sickle cell disorders, subarachnoid hemorrhage, major depressive disorder, and motor vehicle road injuries. An additional 12 conditions were selected by at least two-thirds of the commissions.

Commissions prioritized an average of 35 health-sector interventions estimated to cost an additional US$4.70 to US$13.70 per capita or approximately 9.7 percent to 35.6 percent of current total health expenditure.

Results from the semistructured surveys and qualitative interviews with commission representatives demonstrated positive outcomes on understanding NCDIs of poverty, informing national policy and implementation of NCDI health-sector interventions, and improving governance and coordination of NCDIs.

Implications for national policies and global solidarity

Looking forward, the authors of the study highlight two key recommendations:

• Policy makers should use findings from the National NCDI Poverty Commissions to provide evidence-based, locally driven determination of priorities to guide health-sector policies, programs, and investments for NCDIs; and

• External financing will be required to bridge the gap in financing for NCDIs to achieve universal health coverage in LLMICs.

You can read the full article here.