Health crises are economic crises, too. Yet despite evidence that health investment drives productivity and growth, we’re seeing a downward trend in health spending from national budgets, especially in low-income countries, explained Dr. Kalipso Chalkidou, director of health financing and economics at the World Health Organization. “Noncommunicable diseases and mental health conditions affect not only health but also economic and social development.”
Noncommunicable diseases, or NCDs, such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer, account for 74% of all deaths globally — yet they remain grossly underfunded, especially in low- and middle-income countries. As a result, millions of preventable deaths occur each year, straining health systems and pushing families into poverty.
On the sidelines of the World Health Assembly in Geneva earlier this year, stakeholders from multilateral organizations, NGOs, and the finance sector gathered to address how they could collectively reshape NCD financing. Building on the fruits of these discussions, Devex, together with Access Accelerated, the American Heart Association, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly and Company, HemoCue, the International Society for Nephrology, NCD Alliance, Rabin Martin, Roche, and UNICEF USA, is launching the "Accelerating Action" series. This new series aims to highlight pathways for funding NCD prevention and control, spotlighting innovative financing models and cross-sector collaborations.
About the author
Katrina J. Lane
Katrina Lane is an Editorial Strategist and Reporter at Devex. She writes on ecologies and social inclusion, and also supports the creation of partnership content at Devex. She holds a degree in Psychology from Warwick University, offering a unique perspective on the cognitive frameworks and social factors that influence responses to global issues.
