Country Capacity and Accomplishments and Application of the Policy Options Framework(cont...)

Bangladesh

Key Policy Options and Strategic Actions

Assess

* Develop a national NCD surveillance system. Much has been done toward a national system. The national risk factor survey under way needs to be institutionalized and a strategy for injury

surveillance is needed. Public and private institutions must be tapped and coordinated in

support of NCD surveillance efforts. In addition, enhanced morbidity and mortality surveillance

in subpopulations such as Matlab and BanNet are critical.

Develop and Implement

* Strengthen tobacco control policies. Much progress has been made with a national tobacco

policy. However, tobacco use is still high among both adults and children. Expanding on the core

FCTC activities is needed.

* Strengthen injury control policies. Road traffic and childhood injuries have preventable fractions, yet little policy attention has been directed toward their prevention.

* Retool health services delivery for NCDs. The physician and non-physician workforce need the

treatment guidelines, knowledge, and skills to diagnose and treat NCD within the primary care

system. Pilots to understand best practices and those appropriate for the Bangladesh setting

need to be studied. In addition, adequate supply and access to essential medications is needed,

especially for the poor. Finally, sensitization of the population to the use of allopathic medicine

and its benefits is needed.

Evaluate

* Strengthen evaluate capacity. Policies now in place, pilot studies, and interventions tested will

all need solid evaluation. This will be especially the case for tobacco and injury policies.