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Where have all the Donors Gone? Scarce Donor Funding for Non-Communicable Diseases

09/11/2010

Guest blogger, Rachel Nugent, Deputy Director of Global Health, Center for Global Development, tells us why she thinks the increase in NCDs in the developing world can no longer be ignored.

Just as infectious diseases are beginning to decline in many parts of the developing world, another health crisis is growing. Today non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as diabetes and heart disease, already account for half of the burden of disease in poor countries. A full 80 percent of deaths from NCDs occur in low- and middle-income countries.

These statistics provide dramatic evidence that NCDs are not only a problem in rich countries. However, the response from the global health community to date has been staggeringly inert. In a working paper I released Monday titled, “Where have all the Donors Gone? Scarce Donor Funding for Non-Communicable Diseases”, I find that under 3% of foreign assistance and philanthropic spending for health in developing countries is aimed at non-communicable diseases.

Although in some ways health conditions in developing countries are becoming more like those in developed countries, with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) predominating and infectious diseases decreasing - changing health needs have not translated into significant shifts in resources or policy-level attention from international donors or governments in affected countries.

My paper, co-authored with Andrea Feigl, provides the most comprehensive estimate of donor funding on non-communicable diseases. We include official assistance from governments and multilateral organizations, charitable funding from foundations, and funds from private corporations directed towards developing country health.Compared to the $26.4 billion in total donor funding for global health in 2008, the tiny amount of funding for NCDs is shocking in light of the seriousness and long-term nature of the health risks, the economic losses associated with these types of diseases over time, and the highly preventable nature of many NCDs.

Although there are definite challenges on the road ahead when tackling non-communicable diseases in the developing world, there is a growing understanding of the complexity and interconnectedness of disease risks and patterns and the need for system wide interventions to prevent and treat non-communicable disease. A better funding data tracking system would help to better align needs with available resources, and piloting and evaluation of NCD programs and interventions - especially those that can be easily and cheaply combined with existing global health interventions for chronic diseases such as HIV/AIDS - will support effective health programming and will help to better manage and prevent non-communicable diseases in developing countries in the years to come.

Comments

Pen Sophea 01:35 on 30 December 2010

I do agree with the idea to be increasingly paid attention on the NCD, it is obviously become an serious problem and the cool killer associated with economic burden. Resource allocation for this emerging issue in the developing countries is really needed. The early risk prevention intervention would be much helpful and cost effectiveness.

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Simvastatin 16:31 on 12 May 2011

I guess we all know where the funds that could have gone to donors go now...I won't be surprised if one day the donoring community will be completely gone. The effect on the nation's helath will be worse than from simvastatin side effects

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