NCD prevention and control in a global health perspective: Public health and health systems strengthening approaches

The course addresses public health strategies to prevent and control NCDs, and changes needed in the healthcare system, with regard to the most cost-effective, affordable and scalable interventions (“best buys”) and health service strengthening approaches. The respective contributions of multi-sectoral public health interventions versus changes needed in terms of health care delivery are identified and discussed. The focus is on examining, exposing and contrasting the respective contributions, and complementarities between public health interventions targeting the whole population (relying largely on actions in non-health actors) and measures to strengthen the health system and services (involving mainly health care actors and integrated care delivery) toward improved NCD prevention and control.

By the end of the course participants will:

• Know effective, efficient, equitable and sustainable approaches for NCD prevention and control, with a focus on middle-and low-income countries (but not limited to them);
• Be aware of major cost-effective and affordable public health interventions for the prevention and control of NCDs and be able to relate them with multiple sectors and stakeholders;
• Be aware of the critical elements that need to be addressed to strengthen health care services for improved prevention and control of NCDs;
• Be able to formulate the rationale, components, benefits, and resources needed for implementing, respectively, the “public health” approach and the “health services” approach for the prevention and control of NCDs.

• Basic knowledge and experience in a medical or public health field;
• Interest for prevention and control of NCDs in low- and middle-income countries (although the issues discussed in the course are also fully relevant to high income countries);
• The course can also be of interest for persons involved in development programs in low-and middle-income countries that have a health component.

• Introductory lectures on:
  - NCD burden and impact and how to usefully interpret these data;
  - Rationale, components and impact of the main public health interventions approaches for the prevention and control of NCDs;
  - Critical aspects of health systems strengthening such as integrated care delivery for improved NCD prevention and control;
  - Health policy options for NCD prevention and control from both the public health and health systems perspectives.
• Plenary discussions on both the public health and health systems strengthening approaches for NCD prevention and control;
• Group work on NCD prevention and control approaches.

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In order to get the Certificate of completion and the 1 ECTS participants MUST:

• Attend at least 80%of the course;
• Attend the plenary(s) offered during the days of the course;
• Participate in introductory lectures;
• Actively participate in group work;
• Elaborate and present a case study on NCD control.

The facilitators plan to be in Lugano, and the course will be held entirely on-site. In case of a change of regional policies (e.g., Covid) or personal reasons, the course could change to online or hybrid format. The course will take place at Università della Svizzera italiana (USI).