Non Communicable Diseases

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Background

The Policy Action Group on Non Communicable Diseases (PAG NCDs) is a group of health promotion experts working on non-communicable diseases. It currently consists of  21 experts and is open to EuroHealthNet and IUHPE members.

Major and chronic diseases (MCDs) – defined as diseases affecting at least 50 per 100 000 people – together cause 87% of deaths in the EU (2009).
MCDs include cardiovascular disease, cancer, mental health problems, diabetes mellitus, chronic respiratory disease, and musculoskeletal conditions.
Linked by common risk factors, many of these diseases are preventable. In addition, spreading access to effective treatment more evenly across the EU would bring significant health and economic benefits to all EU countries.

The EU promotes a comprehensive approach to tackling major and chronic diseases involving efforts to:

• make national statistics as reliable and comparable as possible, so they can serve as a good guide to policy effectiveness
• support public-awareness-raising and disease-prevention campaigns that actively target high-risk groups and individuals
• systematically integrate policy and action to reduce inequalities in health

Overall, the EU approach requires integrated action on risk factors across sectors, combined with efforts to strengthen health systems towards improved prevention and control.
 

Activities

The Policy Action Group  feeds its expertise to the EuroHealthNet activities related to non-communicable diseases. In order to manage the exchange of information about the Platform effectively, the group is co-ordinated by the EuroHealthNet Policy and Advocacy Coordinator. This co-ordination is shared with EuroHealthNet member North West Health Brussels Office.

For more information about the PAG please contact:

Stecy Yghemonos
Policy and Advocacy Coordinator
EuroHealthNet
 

David Ritchie
North West Health Brussels Office