Prevention and early detection deserve higher priority

Health professionals indicate both prevention and early detection are equally important and should be prioritized. They contend that broader NCD strategies must address prevention by encouraging people to change their behavior and engage in more healthy lifestyles. Survey respondents cite multiple examples where early screening, detection, and diagnosis prevent symptoms and complications from progressing thus eliminating the need for longer-term treatment and reducing mortality rates.

“It’s not just about diagnosis, but diagnosis will precede treatment and we can diagnose people and not get them on treatment which is a mistake, we can diagnose people and get too many people on treatment which is a mistake, and we can diagnose and treat but pay too little attention to prevention, which of course is a mistake… none of these pieces by itself is sufficient."

— John Peabody, CEO

Qure Healthcare

Health professionals also highlight the importance of prevention and diagnosis concerning specific approaches to NCD care. Survey respondents believe that information resources and NCD awareness is the most important approach, followed by adequate human resources and healthcare workers as well as equipment, tools and healthcare training.