Description

We welcome the set of technical background papers and the document of emerging messaging to inform the outcome document of the international dialogue for the sustainable financing of noncommunicable diseases and mental health (hereinafter “financing dialogue”), prepared by the WHO and World Bank. The background papers are a useful and comprehensive resource addressing many of the issues in NCD and mental health financing and we appreciate the good work and wide range of expertise covered by the authors and the External Technical Expert Group in the development of these papers.

The emerging messages document adequately and accurately captures the critical information delivered through the dialogue’s technical background papers, and we welcome the reiteration of best practices and technical tools that already exist for health and NCDs and mental health (NCD/MH1) financing.

We express concern, however, that current recommendations, outcome messages, and calls to action from the background papers are not sufficiently clearly stated. Also, we note with concern that some of the key recommendations from civil society and other stakeholders for bold action on NCD/MH financing that would help to accelerate progress on efforts for NCD and mental ill health prevention and control are omitted.