Access our Briefing Paper on Essential Medicines and Technologies for NCDs

Millions of people with NCDs in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are dying prematurely or suffering life threatening complications because they cannot access affordable and essential NCD medicines. Many of these life saving medicines, such as aspirin and metformin, are proven to work and cost just cents to produce. We have the medicines and technologies to save lives, but international funding is not available in LMICs. Funding for NCD medicines and technologies is critical for both treatment and prevention. Simple medicines given early can prevent or delay the onset of many NCDs and prevent secondary complications that cost lives, throw families into destitution and impose huge costs on vulnerable health systems.

A recent survey showed that less than 3% of the 22 billion USD spent on health by international aid agencies in LMICs is spent on NCDs, despite NCDs forming 60% of the burden of disease in those countries. International aid agencies must listen to governments in LMICs who are saying loud and clear that they need both financial and technical assistance to turn around the NCD epidemic that threatens to undo development gains.

Photo courtesy: PAHO/Diagnosis and Treatment for All: Haiti, increasing TB detection in people with HIV through integration of TB and HIV services