- Ja
- Ra
- Bo
Jarryn Katia, Rajesh Yadav, Bobomurod Mamdullayev and others are enlisted in the challenge
Innovations for Non-Communicable Diseases and Mental Health Management in Primary Health Care
Innovations for Non-Communicable Diseases and Mental Health Management in Primary Health Care
ADB-PATH Innovations Challenge - Taking innovations to primary health care effectively.
CHALLENGE BACKGROUND
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), cancer, diabetes, and chronic lung disease, along with mental health conditions, cause approximately 74% of global deaths each year. In Asia and the Pacific, NCDs cause more than half of all deaths in each of these countries and represent a pressing public health concern. Besides mortality, NCDs impose significant financial and economic costs on individuals, households, and economies. According to the WHO estimates for 2011 to 2030, the global cost of lost productivity from the four major NCDs is expected to reach US$30 trillion, which may increase to US$47 trillion, adding to the burden of mental health.
Therefore, significant efforts have been undertaken across the globe to alleviate the rising burden of NCDs and mental health conditions, a notable example being the WHO Global Action Plan for Prevention and Control of NCDs 2013–2020, extended until 2030. In 2019, the WHO also launched the Special Initiative for Mental Health (2019–2023): Universal Health Coverage for Mental Health to ensure access to quality and affordable care for mental health conditions.
However, to bridge the gaps remaining in the continuum of care for NCDs, including mental health, and progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals SDG 3.4 target, it is crucial to embrace an integrated approach to managing NCDs and mental health conditions within primary health care (PHC) settings that can work with the existing systemic challenges and accommodate the priorities, preferences, and health care-seeking behaviour of the community. In this endeavour, innovative health technologies such as reduced-cost point-of-care diagnostic equipment, mobile health applications, telemedicine, wearable devices, remote monitoring technologies, digital diagnostics, digitally enabled clinics, and the application of artificial intelligence and machine learning have shown promise as efficacious tools that can improve access to risk assessment, early detection, diagnosis, self-care, and management of NCDs and mental health disorders near the point-of-care.
CHALLENGE THEMES
NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASES
Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs) - commonly comprising cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), cancer, diabetes, and chronic lung disease, along with mental health, cause ~74% of deaths globally each year. A majority, i.e., 77% of this mortality, is reported from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) which also report 86% of premature deaths due to NCDs. In the Asia-Pacific region, NCDs cause more than half of all deaths in each of these countries and represent a key public health challenge. Besides mortality, NCDs impose significant financial and economic costs on individuals, households, and economies. According to WHO estimates for 2011 to 2030, the global cost of lost productivity from the four major NCDs is expected to reach US$30 trillion.
The introduction of health technology innovations—medical devices, in vitro diagnostics, and digital health tools—is being recognized as an important component in this strategy and for achieving affordable, accessible, and high-quality care. There is consistently high interest among the countries in the Asia Pacific region to address NCDs, and progress in terms of developing policies, treatment guidelines, and the integration of NCDs care in primary care has been reported across the countries. To move closer to the sustainable development goals (SDG 3.4 target), there is a need to adopt an integrated care and management approach suitable for primary healthcare settings by understanding the systemic challenges and health-seeking behaviour of the community and identifying appropriate health technologies that can bridge the gaps in screening, diagnosis, monitoring, treatment, and management of NCDs at the primary health care level.
MENTAL HEALTH
The prevalence of mental health disorders has witnessed an exponential surge from 1990 to 2019, now representing approximately 5% of the entire disease burden. The World Health Organization (WHO) identifies depression as one of the leading causes of disability, with suicide ranking as the fourth principal cause of death among individuals aged 15 to 29. Providing mental health services is a key challenge in many countries in the Asia Pacific, compounded by limited investment in provisions for early detection, treatment, and care.
Integration of mental health within primary health care is one of the strategies to improve access and availability of mental health services closer to communities. The introduction of innovative screening technologies, teleconsultation services, and other digital health tools is being recognized as an important component of this strategy for achieving affordable, accessible, and high-quality care for mental health conditions. To move closer to the sustainable development goals (SDG 3.4 target), there is a need to adopt an integrated care and management approach suitable for primary healthcare settings by understanding the systemic challenges and health-seeking behaviour of the community and identifying appropriate health technologies that can bridge the gaps in screening, diagnosis, monitoring, treatment, and management of mental health at the primary health care level.