In our Issue No. 70 of eBulletin, we reported that WHO has committed to tackling deaths arising from non-communication diseases (NCDs) as a major initiative. At the recently held First Global Ministerial Conference on Healthy Lifestyles and Non-communicable Disease Control in Moscow, a pledge by the Health Ministers around the world was unequivocal and in unison, culminated in a document which is now called “Moscow Declaration”. See document here.

In the declaration, the health ministers acknowledged the burden and threat of NCDs to all countries in the world, albeit with disparing inequalities. Amongst the NCDs, the pledge against the spread of cancer, diabetes, heart disease took centre stage as they profoundly and negatively impact human development, and could derail the progress towards the UN Millennium Development Goals.
It is estimated that by 2030, 75% of global deaths will be attributable to NCDs, and developing countries are facing the “extraordinary challenges from the double burden” of communicable diseases and NCDs. The declaration calls for the engagement of both civil society and the private sector to address the challenge, to roll out cost-effective prevention, treatment and integrated management of NCDs. These will include awereness, education, capacity building and not least access to affordable, safe, effective and high quality medicines.” The latter should linger loudly for pharmacists, who are the key custodian of medication supply and we all play a key role in ensuring unimpeded access to safe, effective, quality and affordable medicinal products at both hospital and community to ensure that NCDs are adequately prevented and managed. With an ageing population, NCDs will indeed be a big part of our pharmaceutical care!

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