Strengthening primary health care for the prevention and management of cardiometabolic disease in low- and middle-income countries
Overview
Primary health care is a critical component in the fight against NCDs, especially cardiometabolic diseases which represent the largest disease burden among NCDs. PHC can enable the provision of long-term, people-centred care, which is sustainable, accessible and affordable. PHC also allows an opportunity to undertake activities for the prevention of CMDs through a life-course approach from the prenatal period to an older age. In most LMICs the number of PHC facilities are inadequate, and existing ones often lack adequate resources and capacity to provide accessible and affordable quality care for patients with CMDs. This policy brief presents findings from China, Kenya, Nepal and Viet Nam to provide insight and policy options to strengthen PHC services for the prevention and management of CMDs in LMICs. Policy options for countries to consider include:
- Increase provider capacity: To equip health professionals at PHCs with the knowledge, skills, equipment and know-how to deliver essential, high-quality services for the prevention and management of CMDs and other NCDs
- Support task-sharing: Task-sharing by CHWs as an integral part of the PHC system, which in turn should be integrated within the entire health system
- Partnerships beyond health systems: Community resources and involvement in the planning and implementation of community-based programmes. Public-private partnerships are also recommended, along with the involvement of other stakeholders such as the media, researchers, and others
- Integrate information technology: To explore the use of ICTs, especially mHealth as low-cost and scalable innovations for the management of CMDs
- Conduct targeted research: There is a need to generate policy-relevant evidence to address the increasing burden of CMDs in LMICs