Innovative Financing for Noncommunicable Diseases in Asia and the Pacific

Noncommunicable diseases affect approximately 2 billion people globally, leading to three-quarters of all deaths. According to the World Health Organization, noncommunicable diseases are responsible for 7 of the top 10 leading causes of mortality and account for 28 premature deaths every minute around the globe. In 2021, an estimated 43 million deaths (75% of nonpandemic-related global deaths) were attributable to noncommunicable diseases, of which about 18 million occurred between the ages of 30 and 70.

The disparity in the impact of noncommunicable diseases is also evident by the fact that 73% of all deaths and 82% of premature deaths from these diseases occur in lower middle-income countries. These figures are expected to worsen further because of demographic shifts such as an aging population, urbanization, changes in dietary patterns, such as consumption of processed food with high salt and sugar content, and a sedentary lifestyle.

The paper offers three broad approaches to innovation in financing: sources of funds, innovations, usage of funds, or a combination of these. It further analyzes innovative funding models from global health to substantiate these approaches. It also highlights the key policy lessons on innovative financing mechanisms in the light of established health financing functions (resource mobilization, pooling, and purchasing) and the strategies to ensure the most efficient and optimal usage of the resources for the best possible outcomes on noncommunicable diseases.

Contents

• Introduction
• Overview of Noncommunicable Diseases in Asia and the Pacific
• Financing for Noncommunicable Diseases in Asia and the Pacific
• Innovative Financing
• Summary and Discussion
• Appendixes