Non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, cancer, and heart disease are placing an increasing burden on patients, healthcare systems, and economies. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), NCDs account for 63 percent of global deaths and nearly 80 percent of deaths in low- to middle-income countries. Despite this, the Center for Global Development reports that, from 2001 to 2008, spending on NCDs in developing countries was less than 3 percent of all global health assistance.
Few successful models for NCD treatment and care currently exist in the developing world. In 2011, we announced an investment of $30 million over five years to create The Lilly NCD Partnership, a signature program designed to research new, comprehensive approaches to treat NCDs in the developing world. We are working with world-class health organizations in Brazil, India, Mexico and South Africa—countries that suffer a large burden of NCDs—to develop effective, efficient and sustainable programs that can meaningfully improve health outcomes for those in need.
As we build the partnership, we will report what works, what doesn’t, and advocate for the best solutions we find. The first phase of the partnership will focus on diabetes, an area where Lilly has deep expertise and a history of pioneering therapies. Specifically, we will work to:
- Strengthen diabetes care capabilities at primary care health clinics,
- Improve system efficiencies so that more patients are served,
- Increase appropriate use and medication compliance for improved patient outcomes, and
- Replicate the efforts in similar clinical environments.
