Singapore: Johns Hopkins University's Institute for Applied Economics, Global Health and the Study of Business Enterprise has released a focused set of policy briefs that provide actionable recommendations for improving non-communicable disease (NCD) policy, research and care. The study was commissioned by the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA).

The four main NCD categories, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic lung diseases and diabetes, kill three-in-five people worldwide. Nearly 80 percent of NCD deaths occur in low and middle-income countries.

As part of momentum from the 2011 United Nations high level meeting on the prevention and control of NCDs, a working group of leading scholars produced a collection of briefs titled, 'Addressing the Gaps in Global Policy and Research for Non-Communicable Diseases'. Their findings provide decision-makers with five key areas for action, including strengthening supply chains, accelerating regulatory convergence, applying HIV/AIDS learnings to improve access to interventions, restructuring primary care and promoting multisectoral action.

"We harnessed the direction given by UN member states in the NCD Political Declaration as a springboard for action," said Sir George Alleyne, former director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), and co-author of one of the briefs. "Based on this direction, our work paves a way forward to achieve better health outcomes through multisectoral and intersectoralcooperation."

Mr Eduardo Pisani, director general, IFPMA, said that, "The research-based pharmaceutical industry commissioned these briefs to generate ideas which we hope will contribute to WHO discussions and provide a path forward where our industry is best prepared to play its part with other stakeholders."