Package of Essential Noncommunicable (‎PEN)‎ disease and healthy lifestyle interventions

Overview

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs – cardiovascular diseases [CVDs], diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD], asthma, and cancers) and other modifiable risk factors that can result in NCDs such as tobacco and alcohol use, unhealthy diet and physical inactivity can be addressed in primary care settings using cost-effective interventions. Although using the primary health care (PHC) approach has been a success story in addressing public health issues, at the moment, its full potential for NCD prevention and control remains untapped in Member States of the WHO South-East Asia (SEA) Region. Currently, PHC services have a low capacity for NCD care and provide reactive and episodic responses rather than using a coordinated and patient-centred approach. The existing PHC systems need to be fully strengthened and optimized for early detection, treatment and follow-up care of patients with NCDs.