Be cautious about private sector efforts to prevent non-communicable diseases: WHO report

The World Health Organization (WHO) is tasked with advising member countries on how to work with the private sector to prevent and control non-communicable diseases (NCDs) only if they add value to the effort.

The note, developed by WHO together with experts from member states and civil society, proposed that private sector entities working with government should have no conflict of interest.

The WHO guide focuses on how partnerships with the private sector will help in NCD reduction, accountable and transparent governance, etc. by maintaining the credibility and integrity of the partnerships.

This is against the background of some companies that were rejected by the Ministry of Health due to conflict of interest and were looking for ways to cooperate with other ministries.

According to a report by the Ministry of Health, India is currently facing a situation where non-communicable diseases now account for approximately 60% of all deaths.

WHO guide

The WHO guide provides the government with a step-by-step approach to establishing processes for assessing, analyzing and making strategic decisions about working with the private sector.

Cooperation with the private sector can improve the health impact of this disease, WHO said on its website. Countries should strengthen their capacity to collaborate across sectors and with multiple stakeholders at national and non-national levels and “identify with non-state actors opportunities to accelerate the national response to non-communicable diseases,” the NCD website said. These tools were requested during the ongoing World Health Congress taking place in Geneva.

The decision-making tool is intended for policy makers and officials from Union Ministries and State Governments. Additionally, it can provide practical insight into other government sectors such as economy, finance, trade, agriculture and education, especially when seeking clarity on government policies and responses to the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases.

Experts in the field say that regulatory policies or changes in individual behavior will not be sustainable unless the environment and policies are supportive.

Expert opinion

International expert Dr. Monika Arora, president of the NCD Alliance, together with Kent Buse from Imperial College London, wrote an opinion on this tool, published on May 29 in the British Medical Journal. Experts said the WHO guidelines could help build private sector engagement in the interest of public health and avoid industries that are harmful to health. Civil society organizations, people with lived experience and academic institutions can also be engaged to help implement this decision-making tool.

Studies have shown that most food advertisements are high in fat, salt and sugar. More of these advertisements are shown on children’s TV channels than on adult channels, which influences children and encourages them to adopt an unhealthy lifestyle.

Another incident occurred in November when a government event on health and nutrition was organized and sponsored by junk food producers.

“This will ensure greater transparency and accountability in making informed decisions to engage with private sector entities only where they add value to the NCD response. “Only private sector entities that commit to tackling the burden of NCDs through evidence-based policies will be able to engage with the government by adhering to these guidelines,” experts said.