Research-Policy Workshop
Background
Ageing populations and rising prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) will
continue to drive up demand for healthcare. Adapting and extending health systems to
manage this demand is a major challenge for low- and middle-income countries
(LMICs). While WHO-sponsored protocols for disease screening and management
provide valuable signposts, their impact is contingent on effective implementation and
may be muted if many people seek healthcare for NCD-related complaints from
providers operating outside of the public health system. Lack of comprehensive
inclusion of primary care and medicines in health insurance benefit packages can push
patients toward private providers who are not obliged to follow the protocols.
Coverage gaps for NCD-related health problems have negative consequences for the
health and economic security of LMIC populations. Knowledge gaps impede the design
of policies necessary to secure more effective and equitable disease screening and
management.
Objectives
• Gather researchers and health system specialists working on NCD in LMICs.
• Review evidence on NCD healthcare demand and coverage of related costs in
LMICs.
• Identify knowledge gaps about implementation and effects of policies that aim to
address the coverage gaps.
• Explore relevance of specific purchasing arrangements for addressing the coverage
gaps, with a focus on quality of care.
• Disseminate research findings to policymakers with aim of influencing policy
agenda.
• Obtain feedback on research from policymakers with aim of developing research
agenda to address knowledge gaps.
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