The NCD Alliance is very pleased to announce the launch of a new partnership with Pfizer to develop and disseminate evidence on proven, cost-effective solutions involving frontline health workers to strengthen health systems for NCD prevention and care.

Geneva, 4 December 2018.- Globally, Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of death and disability, responsible for the deaths of 41 million people yearly, while low- and middle-income countries bear most of this burden. In order to reach the UN sustainable development goal (SDG) target 3.4 on NCDs ‒ to reduce by a third the rate of premature deaths by NCDs by 2030 ‒ there is an urgent need to build resilient health systems and national NCD responses, where the health workforce plays a key role, in particular at primary healthcare level. Improving access to medicines and health workers with the right skills, in the right numbers, and in the right places is crucial to drive global progress on reducing the rate of premature deaths by NCDs across the continuum of care with a people-centred approach.

The partnership seeks to foster evidence-based dialogue and cross-fertilisation in thinking, research and operational practice on how frontline health workers need to and can be supported to provide essential health services and to prevent, detect, and respond to NCDs with a focus at the primary healthcare level. In the next year, the NCD Alliance intends to develop a policy research report to explore the challenges and potential solutions to help ensure an optimal health workforce in the context of NCD prevention and control across the continuum of care. Drawing upon interviews and case studies, its findings and recommendations will be discussed and presented to the NCD community including via a series of training webinars offered to NCDA membership.

“We are proud to work with Pfizer to promote the role of healthcare professionals in supporting health systems strengthening. We need to make the case and better understand how frontline health workers ‒ including physicians, nurses, midwives, community health workers and pharmacists ‒ can be best supported to provide care to their communities and contribute to effective health systems for NCDs”, said Katie Dain, CEO of the NCD Alliance. 

Dr. Amrit Ray, Global President of Research, Development and Medical, Established Medicines, Pfizer added, “Pfizer has a long heritage of combating non-communicable diseases for patients around the world, and is honored to be a partner of the NCD Alliance.  We are committed to relieving the public health burden of NCDs and are proud to advocate the crucial role of health workers. We look forward to supporting novel strategies to strengthen the ecosystem of education, deployment, management and rewards at the primary healthcare level." 

About the NCD Alliance

The NCD Alliance (NCDA) is a unique civil society network of 2,000 organisations in 170 countries, dedicated to improving NCD prevention and control worldwide. Our network includes NCDA members, national and regional NCD alliances, scientific and professional associations, and academic and research institutions. Together with strategic partners, including WHO, the UN and governments, NCDA is transforming the global fight against NCDs. To learn more, visit www.ncdalliance.org.

About Pfizer - Working together for a healthier world® 

At Pfizer, we apply science and our global resources to bring therapies to people that extend and significantly improve their lives. We strive to set the standard for quality, safety and value in the discovery, development and manufacture of health care products. Our global portfolio includes medicines and vaccines as well as many of the world's best-known consumer health care products. Every day, Pfizer colleagues work across developed and emerging markets to advance wellness, prevention, treatments and cures that challenge the most feared diseases of our time. Consistent with our responsibility as one of the world's premier innovative biopharmaceutical companies, we collaborate with health care providers, governments and local communities to support and expand access to reliable, affordable health care around the world. For more than 150 years, we have worked to make a difference for all who rely on us. 

For more information contact: 

Ms Jimena Marquez Donaher, Communications Director, NCD Alliance, [email protected]