Aligning Policy Options with Burden and Capacity(CONT...)

Applying the framework to a lower capacity country setting can then highlight the subset of options for population-based and individual-based interventions that are strategic (Table 4.3 in main text). With limited capacity, planning and human resource development constitute the focus and an emphasis within the population-based mode—within the health sector, as compared to clinical mode efforts.

Risk factor and health sector capacity assessment, policy for risk factor reduction, and financing to support these activities also are strategic starting points in this setting. As one moves to a middle burden and middle/higher capacity context, broader efforts become strategic.

Beyond capacity assessment, planning, and human resource development, prevention now includes identifying high-risk groups for targeting interventions, examining inpatient and outpatient utilization of services, more comprehensive reviews of the existing literature on burden and interventions, and development of some policies within and outside the sector, along with basic primary care programs.

The need to develop a regulatory framework also emerges, as does strengthening the primary care setting’s infrastructure to accommodate provision of NCD care. Finally, the importance of evaluation emerges with a focus on efforts for prevention.