Strategies or interventions recommended for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in the national policy documents
| No | Countries | Health policy documents (source) | Recommended interventions/strategies |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Afghanistan | National Strategy for Prevention and Control of Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), 2013–2018;13 endorsed by Ministry of Public Health Afghanistan, General Directorate of Preventive Medicine NCD Prevention and Control Department | (1) Introduce interventions targeted to reduce tobacco use, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, and harmful use of alcohol; (2) strengthen health system and integrate NCD programme in PHC; (3) develop and implement effective NCD advocacy plan; (4) health promotion, media campaigns, workplace-based programmes, and promote population-based interventions; (5) build capacity of healthcare workers; (6) establish national diabetes registry and surveillance of NCD risk factors (STEPS survey); (7) establish multisectoral partnerships |
| 2. | Bhutan | National Policy and Strategic Frame-Work on Prevention and Control of NCDs14 (Endorsed by the Royal Government of Bhutan 2009) | (1) Introduce alcohol and tobacco taxes; (2) introduce interventions to improve physical activity in schools and community; (3) promote healthy lifestyle initiatives; (4) strengthen health services to provide timely treatment and continuum of care |
| 3. | Bangladesh | Strategic Plan for Surveillance and Prevention of NCDs in Bangladesh, 2007–201015 (endorsed by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare) | (1) Health facility strengthening; (2) capacity building; (3) availability of essential drugs; (4) screening of high-risk individuals; (5) development of surveillance system |
| 4. | India | National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, CVDs and Stroke (NPCDCS), 201016 | (1) Prevention through behaviour change: mass media, community education, and interpersonal communication to be used for increased intake of healthy food, increased physical activity, avoidance of tobacco and alcohol, and stress management; (2) opportunistic screening of those individuals at high risk of developing T2DM and CVD; (3) range of treatment services: health promotion, psychosocial counselling, management (out- and in-patient), day care services, home-based care and palliative care, and referral to specialised services |
| 5. | Maldives | National Strategic Plan for Prevention and Control of NCDs 2008–201017 | (1) Encourage healthy lifestyles in school and community setting—for example, tobacco-free islands; (2) awareness campaigns and health education session; (3) develop and disseminate treatment guidelines for major NCDs; (4) conduct screening in high-risk groups; (5) integrate and strengthen NCD management in PHC; (6) build capacity for care providers |
| 6. | Nepal | Integrated NCD Prevention and Control Policy of Nepal, 2007–0818 | (1) Reduce tobacco use and alcohol consumption: ‘sin tax’; (2) establish NCD surveillance system; (3) build capacity for healthcare workers; (4) prioritise low-cost, cost-effective socio-culturally acceptable measures in planning and implementation of NCD prevention and control |
| 7. | Pakistan | National Action Plan for NCDs Pakistan, 200419 | CVD and T2DM action plan: (1) integrate surveillance of CVD risk factors with population-based NCD surveillance system; (2) promote physical activity and healthy diet; (3) agricultural and fiscal policies to increase access to healthy food; (4) population-level screening of risk factors; (5) ensure availability of aspirin, β-blockers, thiazides, ACE inhibitors, statins and penicillin at all levels of healthcare; (6) ensure availability of antidiabetic agents (insulin, sulfonylureas, metformin) at all levels of healthcare; (7) build capacity of health systems in support of CVD prevention and control |
| 8. | Sri Lanka | National Policy and Strategic Framework for Prevention and Control of Chronic NCDs, 200920 | (1) Screening at community level with focus on high-risk CVD; (2) provision of optimal care and appropriate curative, preventive, rehabilitative and palliative services at all levels; (3) promotion of healthy lifestyle (diet and exercise); (4) strengthening of health information system including disease and risk factor surveillance; (5) addressing tobacco and alcohol use—Implementation of National Authority Act on Tobacco and Alcohol |
PHC, primary health centre.