Monday, October 3, 2011

Regional Strategies for NCD Prevention and Control

Key messages

* Regional strategies could enhance NCD prevention, especially for tobacco and food.

* Three main situations lend themselves to regional cooperation: when there are positive or
negative externalities, there are economies of scale and scope, and the production (or prevention) of a good is only possible if all countries participate.

* Potential areas for regional collaboration include tobacco control (including harmonizing
tobacco taxes and strengthening anti-smuggling measures); standardizing and mandating food
labeling; purchasing essential medications for treatment of NCDs; and developing a shared
evidence base for intervention, training, and surveillance.

* Institutions to lead and manage supranational coordination need to be identified.

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