Non-communicable Diseases

NCDs are the world’s leading cause of death. Over three-quarters of all NCD deaths, including 85% of those classified as ‘premature’, happen in low- and middle-income countries.

Every year, NCDs are responsible for the loss of 41 million lives. Cardiovascular diseases and diabetes are responsible for almost 50% of all NCD deaths.

Early detection and management can avoid long-term complications and reduce the health and economic burden of these chronic conditions. But high costs and supply barriers mean that essential tests and diagnostic tools are inaccessible in many low- and middle-income countries, leaving primary healthcare facilities and people living with NCDs ill-equipped to address basic testing and monitoring needs.

Access to community- and home-based monitoring technologies for disease management is also limited. For example, only 48% of low-income countries report blood glucose measurement technology as being ‘generally available’, and one in every three people with diabetes in low- and middle-income countries has never had their blood glucose measured at all. Increasing access to diagnostics for these conditions is an integral part of the strategy to meet the WHO 2030 target of reducing risk of overall mortality from NCDs by 25%.

Our non-communicable diseases strategy recognizes that the diagnosis and management of these conditions requires a long-term, holistic approach that brings diagnostic solutions closer to the people who need them. Our work includes market-shaping activities to improve the affordability of existing tools, as well as research, technical guidance and support to inspire innovation in product design and delivery. We also recognize the need to bring transparency to the diagnostic landscape. We are working with our partners to evaluate products and models, generating evidence to inform national decision-making and shape policy developments that will help close the gaps in the care cascade.

Working with partners we will deliver:

• Evidence of performance of diabetes diagnostic and self-monitoring tools in low- and middle-income countries
• Availability of at least 5 existing diabetes and cardiometabolic diagnostic and monitoring tools at a reduced price
• 1–2 new glucose self-monitoring technologies selected for implementation in low- and middle-income countries
• Multiparameter cardiometabolic point-of-care devices evaluated
• Optimization potential for cardiometabolic products and implementation models defined
• Integrated NCD screening and care piloted and evaluated in at least two countries

NCD coffee chats