NCDs are the leading cause of death in most countries, resulting in 200 million premature deaths among women and men aged between 30 and 70, the majority living in low- and middle-income countries. SDG target 3.4 calls for premature mortality from NCDs to be reduced by one third by 2030 - an ambitious goal that necessitates a transformation in how, and by whom, NCD services are delivered. It is evident that a redistribution of health care for NCDs is required that will see roles traditionally performed in hospitals shift to the community, to where people live and work and can most readily access services. Primary health care (PHC), long recognized for its contribution to health promotion and disease prevention, will be called upon to serve as a platform for NCD screening, early diagnosis, treatment, palliation and rehabilitation.
Such a shift is a considerable endeavor and will not be possible unless the PHC workforce is adequately equipped to meet the increased scale and scope of NCD care. This means not only bolstering the supply of PHC workers but optimizing the distribution of critical tasks among different cadres. Executing this transition requires unprecedented cooperation and collaboration between the health, education and labour sectors as well as regulatory bodies to ensure that quality of care is maintained through efforts to match workforce capabilities with population needs.
This webinar session will convene health system and workforce experts to examine what it will take to prepare the PHC workforce to take on the challenge of NCDs, and whether it is indeed possible to transform traditional roles and workforce distribution so that people can access NCD treatment, rehabilitation and palliative care in their communities.
Speakers:
Dr Ren Minghui, Assistant Director General, UHC/Communicable and Noncommunicable Diseases, WHO
Dr Bente Mikkelsen, Director, WHO NCD Department
Dr Temo Waqanivalu, Unit head, WHO NCD Integrated Service Delivery
Dr James Campbell, Director, Health Workforce Department, WHO
Elizabeth Iro, Chief Nursing Officer, WHO
Ms Sonam Choki, Health Assistant, Bhutan
Ms Marika Guzek, Nurse, Centrum Medyczno-Diagnostyczne w Siedlcach, Poland
Dr Gail Tomblin Murphy, Vice President of Research, Innovation and Discovery and Chief Nurse Executive, Nova Scotia Health Authority
Ms Omnia El Omrani, Liaison Officer for Public Health Issues, IFMSA
Dr Mamsallah Faal-Omisore, Clinical Director, Primary Care International
Moderator: Dr James Buchan, Editor in chief of the Human Resources for Health journal and Adjunct Professor, University of Technology, Sydney