Building an interdisciplinary workforce for prevention and control of non-communicable diseases: the role of e-learning

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases, diabetes, and mental health conditions, are a threat to human health, causing 74% of global deaths annually.1 Three quarters of these deaths occur in low and middle income countries, where health systems are least prepared to deal with the growing burden of chronic disease. NCDs represent a complex interplay of genetic, behavioural, social, economic, cultural, environmental, and commercial factors.1 The convergence of the growing NCD burden, multimorbidites, and rapid technological advances calls for integrated models of chronic care that include interventions and services for health promotion, disease prevention, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, and palliative care.234To provide such a broad range of interventions, especially when faced with weak and fragmented health systems in resource poor settings, it is important to strengthen the capacities of the existing health workforce and train additional interdisciplinary staff and equip them with the unique skills required to…
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