The role of public-private and private-private partnerships in combating NCDS

The role of public-private and private-private partnerships in combating NCDS

Press and media
Wednesday, 17 October 2018

IAPO and Teva Pharmaceuticals held the NCD Care Continuum: Multi-Sectoral Action to Advance Management of NCDs event in advance of the 3rd UN High Level Meeting on Noncommunicable Diseases, on 25th September where the discussion was on the building of multisectoral and multidisciplinary collaborations to address barriers to the treatment and care of noncommunicable diseases. The panel explored scalable systems and digital technologies to solve issues related to the management and self-management of NCDs, and the role that different industry actors can play in advancing solutions. 

In her keynote address, Dr. Sania Nishtar, CEO, Heartfile, and Co-Chair, WHO High-Level Commission on Noncommunicable Diseases, emphasized the importance of innovation in NCD management and self-management as a way to improve quality of life for people living with NCDs. 

This event came up with the following conclusions in moving the multisectoral and multidisciplinary collaborations agenda forward:

1. Role of collaborations
Public-private and private-private partnerships offer the opportunity to leverage the technical capacity and expertise of industry in crafting programs and policy. By conducting business responsibly, the private sector can address the health needs of people in the countries in which they work in important ways.
 
2. Importance of engaging patients and understanding the changing epidemiological character of NCDs  
The discussion emphasized the increasing number of people with multiple chronic conditions. Several solutions were discussed, including:
  • Partnerships with patients and patient advocacy groups 
  • Moving away from vertical disease plans to create systems that can prevent, treat and manage all of a patient’s health needs
  • The importance of viewing disease as acute and chronic instead of communicable and non-communicable (the former has larger implications for health systems strengthening than the latter).
3. Importance of utilizing data and digital solutions, as well as solutions that cover multiple health conditions 
Proper utilization of data from health records and medical will enable patients, providers and policy makers to gain a better understanding of the nature of the diseases and the management solutions that have the greatest impact. Additionally, looking at new metrics, such as the burden of multiple chronic conditions, will greatly improve our understanding of NCDs and how to manage them.  
 
The panel speakers at this event included: 
  • Amalia Adler-Waxman, VP Social Impact and Responsibility, Teva Pharmaceuticals
  • Dr. David Barash, Executive Director Global Health Portfolio, Chief Medical Officer, GE Foundation
  • Jennifer Esposito, Worldwide General Manager, Health and Life Sciences Group, Intel Corporation 
  • Penney Cowan, Chair, IAPO; Founder & Executive Director, American Chronic Pain Association 
  • Dr. Sandeep Kishore Associate Director, Arnhold Institute for Global Health, Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai Health 
  • Jenifer Healy, Chief of Staff, Office of Global Affairs, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
  • Dr. Jeffrey L. Sturchio, President and CEO, Rabin Martin, moderator
  • Reflection: Sir George Alleyne, Director Emeritus, Pan American Health Organization