Introducing the Policy Options Framework

From a policy perspective, this framework is useful because population-based and individual-based interventions mobilize different parts of the non-health and health sectors and require very different inputs in terms of infrastructure, capacity, and skill sets; they also yield very different outputs and outcomes.

Harmonizing both intervention modes is necessary to ensure the right mix and that

population-based interventions complement those delivered within the clinical care system.

Different countries however, are at different stages of development of their NCD programs and

therefore it is important to integrate this aspect in the framework. Generally, the cycle has the following four program management stages: Assess, Plan, Develop and Implement, and Evaluate (Figure 5.1).Some important points emerge.

1) this sequence is not unidirectional and it contains many feedback loops and iterations. For example, Plan efforts (at right in the figure) may identify new areas where assessments are needed and Evaluate activities will identify program successes and failures where Develop and Implement efforts need further consideration. Thus, understanding progress at each stage

and its relevance to other stages is needed.

Figure 5.1 Program management stages in the policy options framework

2) facilitating interaction between different components of the health system (e.g. service

delivery, human resources) and across levels of the health sector (e.g. central, regional) is also important because many different actors may be responsible for activities at different stages.

3) many countries are at different stages of implementation of their NCD prevention, control, and treatment programs. In such cases they can use the framework to integrate future actions and balance efforts between population-based and individual-based interventions.