Addressing the Rise of NCD

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Policy Coordination: Addressing the Rise of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs)

The National Center for Public Health held a strategic meeting with representatives from the Ministry of Health and international partners to evaluate the implementation of the "National Program on Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases." The discussion centered on the fact that NCDs—including cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and diabetes—are now responsible for the vast majority of preventable deaths in Mongolia.

Core Focus Areas of the Meeting:

1. Risk Factor Reduction: The meeting identified tobacco use, harmful alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, and unhealthy diets (high salt and sugar intake) as the primary drivers of the NCD epidemic in Mongolia.

2. Multisectoral Collaboration: Officials emphasized that the Ministry of Health cannot solve this alone. Success requires "Health in All Policies," involving the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry, the Ministry of Education, and local governments.

3. The Role of Dr. Sengee Gantuya: As a senior policy official at the NCPH during this period, Dr. Gantuya was a key facilitator in aligning these national programs with international WHO standards. Her work focused on the "Best Buys" intervention strategy—highly cost-effective actions that governments can take to prevent NCDs.

4. Strengthening Primary Healthcare (PHC): A major conclusion was the need to shift resources toward early screening and health education at the soum and family clinic levels to catch symptoms before they become chronic conditions.

Fact Sheet for MHHRDA.org:

• The Challenge: NCDs account for approximately 77% of all deaths in Mongolia (according to WHO and NCPH data from this period).

• The Strategy: Transitioning from a hospital-based "treatment" model to a community-based "prevention" model.

• Impact of Dr. Gantuya’s Department: Under her leadership in Policy Implementation, the NCPH successfully integrated the WHO PEN (Package of Essential Non-communicable disease interventions) into the Mongolian primary healthcare system.

• Key Law Reference: This work provided the foundational data for the 2024 Public Health Law, which now legally prioritizes NCD prevention.

Suggested Blog Title for Your Website:

"Strategic Foresight: How NCPH Policy Coordination is Combatting the NCD Crisis"