On 25 September 2023 in Washington, DC, USA, IFPMA submitted a statement at the 60th Directing Council of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) on agenda item 4.4: Policy on Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases in Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults.

IFPMA welcomes PAHO’s continued focus on non-communicable diseases and the proposed resolution and its focus on prevention and control of NCDs for children, adolescents, and young adults. With childhood obesity and diabetes on an alarming rise, taking a life-course approach to tackling NCDs is critical, particularly given the unsustainable pressures on healthcare systems from this global health burden. COVID-19 has illustrated that people living with NCDs were by far the most vulnerable to serious complications and death from the pandemic. The “perfect storm” that chronic conditions and pandemics create underscores the need for strong and resilient health systems.

In a year where universal health coverage (UHC) is in focus due to the recent UN High-Level Meeting, we cannot talk about achieving UHC without comprehensive treatment and care for NCDs being at the core. Prevention, treatment, diagnosis, and care must be prioritized in essential benefits packages for NCDs, with primary healthcare being the foundation of UHC.

Alongside our collective advocacy efforts to keep NCDs high on the global agenda, we need to develop solutions that ensure concrete access outcomes for people living with NCDs, regardless of where they live. To achieve this, we urge PAHO to find ways to leverage the capabilities of all non-state actors and reiterate that the private sector remains committed to finding ways forward to improve access for those living with NCDs.

We believe the private sector has been and remains a necessary and critical partner in addressing the gaps in response to NCDs. The innovative pharmaceutical industry is a committed stakeholder in tackling NCDs and will continue working with others to build access solutions and contribute toward stronger health systems to improve the lives of people living with NCDs.

About IFPMA

IFPMA represents the innovative pharmaceutical industry at the international level, engaging in official relations with the United Nations and multilateral organizations. Our vision is to ensure that scientific progress translates into the next generation of medicines and vaccines that deliver a healthier future for people everywhere.

To achieve this, we act as a trusted partner, bringing our members' expertise to champion pharmaceutical innovation, drive policy that supports the research, development, and delivery of health technologies, and create sustainable solutions that advance global health.

ifpma.org

Media Contact

Elliot Dunster e.dunster@ifpma.org