Devex: Opinion: A defining moment in the fight against NCDs
Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen, president and chief executive officer at Novo Nordisk

“…To reduce deaths from [non-communicable diseases (NCDs)], we urgently need to ensure that all people at risk of developing an NCD and those already living with an NCD have access to diagnosis, treatment, and care no matter where they live. This can only be achieved by working in partnership and drawing on the expertise of all stakeholders. … The Defeat-NCD Partnership, a public-private partnership anchored in the U.N., was launched [in September] to move the dialogue on access to medicines from rhetoric to practical action. … A key action of the partnership will be to establish an innovative online mechanism that makes the provision of essential medicines, diagnostics, and equipment simpler and more cost effective for low-resource countries. … In addition to [establishing this] Defeat-NCD Marketplace, the partnership will work to help governments strengthen key institutions and develop practical costed action plans, increase the provision of NCD services through community action and health system strengthening, and support low-resource countries in securing financing to achieve universal health coverage. Tackling NCDs in low-resource countries may seem like a daunting task but, by working together and exploring innovative partnerships, we can break new ground…” (10/8).