Chronic health conditions also known as non-communicable diseases are physical or mental health conditions that last more than one year, causes functional restriction, and require ongoing monitoring of treatment. The main types of chronic illnesses are; cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory diseases, and Diabetes. The aim of this paper is therefore to determine a policy action that will assist in controlling this issue and evaluation of the proposed policy.
Importance of this Issue
Growing rates of chronic conditions are a major concern because they are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally. It is estimated that non-communicable diseases kill 41 million people each year, equivalent to 71% of all deaths globally. Annually, more than 15 million people die premature deaths with most people being below 70 years (WHO, 2013). Chronic health conditions have led to long-term disability, reduced quality of life, and death, therefore, raising a major public health concern. Non-communicable diseases have led to an increased global disease burden and have been a major driver of increased healthcare costs, threatening socio-economic development and impeding poverty reduction initiatives in low-income countries. It is also estimated that the global burden caused by chronic illness will increase by 17% in the next ten years therefore prevention to curb the increased rates ought to be given priority (WHO, 2013).
Policy Action
Robust public health policies and strategies are vital for protecting the health of populations. Policy for prevention and control of chronic illnesses that focuses on modifiable risk factors such as Tobacco control policy, alcohol policy formulation and implementation, nutritional policy, and physical activity (Juma & Wisdom, 2018). The above policies can make a sustainable impact on public health if they are geared to addressing primary prevention. Policies for prevention and control need to address unhealthy behaviors that are not only influenced by the individual but also economic growth, globalization, and unplanned urbanization. Influencing the behavior and choices of a person may be hard and cannot be accomplished by education alone. An enabling policy is fundamental; one that is sustaining healthy behavior needs to be considered along with wide public domains such as Transport, Agriculture, Socio-cultural beliefs, and finance.
Advantages and Disadvantages of the Policy Action
Chronic health prevention policies in many countries have been influenced both by local and global factors. The main disadvantage, therefore, is that most of the prevention policy plans have implementation gaps and will therefore need an enhanced country-level obligation to support prevention policies. You may find that some forms of governance may be incompetent in this aspect. A major advantage of prevention policy is that its most effective when it targets a problem from the root cause. It is also cost-effective compared to other policies such as early treatment. Prevention increases one’s lifespan drastically and lowers the long-term cost of disease management. Preventive policy guarantees reductions in future morbidity and mortality.
Implementation of the Policy Action
A successful approach to reducing the burden of chronic illnesses requires a multisectoral approach. The policy response to the increasing burden of chronic illnesses requires strategic intent from the state. Policies formulated by the state can make a significant impact on public health matters if they are geared to addressing primary prevention. Policies formulated by the state help integrate regulatory, legislative, and multisectoral actions across the health sector. Such a multisectoral approach is integral for the creation of an enabling environment to support healthy behavior. A national policy also provides an overarching framework that enables the government to synergistically balance public health strategies that target the whole population and those at high-risk groups A state policy also provides a strong basis for appropriate legislation and regulations regarding laws such as tobacco control, alcohol consumption control and healthy diet. Different health agencies such as nonprofit government organizations also play a critical role in preventing chronic illnesses.
Policy Evaluation
The best way to evaluate the policy would be through monitoring trends, health determinants, and progress at all levels that including regional, national, and global targets. In addition, identifying potential implementation gaps, outlining areas of improvement, and holding policy implementers accountable for their activities at the same time, the evaluation must be evidence-based to foster quality care and professionalism. Outcome evaluation can be used as it focuses on both short- and long-term program objectives making it appropriate for demonstrating changes in health conditions, behavior, and quality of life. Lastly, impact assessment would be fundamental in assessing changes in knowledge, awareness, beliefs, and perceptions of the members of the community.
References
Juma, P., & Wisdom, J. (2018). Introduction: Non-communicable disease prevention policies in six African countries. BMC Public Health, 18(S1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-018-5824-8
WHO. (2013). GLOBAL ACTION PLAN FOR THE PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF NONCOMMUNICABLE DISEASES. Apps.who.int. Retrieved 18 November 2021, from http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/94384/9789241506236_eng.pdf;jsessionid=C42492B032D3E04A93BB80CE8DB10D8B?sequence=1.
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