In preparation for the third UN HLM on NCDs, the WHO Global Dialogue on Partnerships for Sustainable Financing of Noncommunicable Diseases Prevention and Control took place in Copenhagen, Denmark from the 9th until the 11th of April. IFMSA was represented by the Liaison Officer for Public Health Issues, Sanne de Wit. Additionally IFMSA partnered in organising a Youth Innovation Lab happening along with the Global Dialogue.
The Global Dialogue aimed to give an answer on the one question: How can we mobilise finance and development cooperation at the local, national and global levels? Furthermore, it aimed to explore new opportunities for multistakeholder and multisectoral partnerships to catalyse action for effective national NCD responses. The Dialogue successfully brought a mix of participants together with either backgrounds in health, development or finance from member states, civil society, UN institutions and the private sector.
With a variety of speakers the stage was set in several plenaries addressing innovative financing and leveraging domestic and external resources after which the delegates had the opportunity to attend several parallel sessions and partnership fora to dive deeper into specific issues. A highlight of the second day was the launch of The Lancet series on NCDs and economics (click) which managed to demonstrate the tight-knit connection between economic growth and controlling NCDs, making a solid investment case.
Partnership Forum: A vital Investment; Scaling up Health Workforce for NCDs
IFMSA had the opportunity to co-organise the Partnership Forum on A Vital Investment; Scaling up Health Workforce for NCDs. The Partnership Forum discussed the following questions:
- What are the investment needs to strengthen countries’ capacities to develop Human Resources for Health (HRH) policies and plans in line with national health strategies to achieve Universal Health Coverage and SDG3.4?
- What are the challenges for adequate and efficient sustainable financing for developing the ‘fit for purpose’ health workforce in resource-constrained environments?
- What is the role of various sectors (civil society, professional associations, private sector), as well as development partners in advancing the HRH agenda to support scale-up of the health workforce to address the growing burden of NCDs?
As part of the panel we had the opportunity to present IFMSA’s stance on the issues and discuss them with the participants and other panellists. The Forum resulted in a lively discussion with tangible outcomes and great feedback.
Youth Innovation Lab
In support of the Global Dialogue a Youth Innovation Lab was held by the World Diabetes Foundation in collaboration with NCD Child, NCD Free, Young Professionals Chronic Disease Network and IFMSA, welcoming the most innovative talents from all around the world. In four days the participants came up with radical different, creative and new financing mechanisms to tackle NCDs.
The best two solutions were presented to the Global Dialogue and the best team will have the opportunity to go to the UNLEASH Innovation Lab happening later this year. Besides that the talents got the opportunity to present their ideas to her Royal Highness Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, the Minister for Development Cooperation of Denmark, the WHO Assistant Director General on NCDs and Mental Health and her Royal Highness Princess Dina Mired and seek support of other attendees at the conference.
Watch this video for an insight on how the Youth Innovation Lab went: https://vimeo.com/264910277
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