Enhancing Health Outcomes for Non Communicable Diseases: As Clinical Pharmacist

The burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is one of the vital factors that is currently affecting most of the developing countries. Non communicable Diseases (NCDs) are currently responsible for 68% of global deaths and are projected to result in 75% of global deaths by 2030. Thus the increasing burden of NCDs is bound to affect both the levels of poverty and the sustainable development of developing countries much more than it will impact on developed countries. Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.4 has thus been formulated to emphasize the reduction of premature mortality from NCDs by one third, through prevention and treatment thereof, and by promoting mental health and well-being for all by 2030. NCDs are also indirectly related to SDG 3.5, which aims to strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse; SDG 3.8 aims at universal health coverage (UHC); and SDG 3.9 targets a substantial reduction in the number of deaths and illnesses from pollution and contamination by 2030.

Medication non-adherence in NCDs is the degree to which patients do not take medications as directed, which is costly and dangerous. Poor adherence to medications increases overall health care costs as patients become sicker faster and require more costly interventions. There are many ways NCDs prevention and control programs can work with and support pharmacists in their efforts to improve patient outcomes for heart disease and diabetes. Currently India confronted with the problem of poverty and NCDs, which, if NCDs are not alleviated, will further increase poverty and widen inequality.

As NCDs affect the most productive age group of the economy, it is pertinent to control NCDs during their initial stages, so that they do not derail the development processes of the economy.

Clinical pharmacist can contribute toward NCDs by Supporting Product Selection and verifying Therapy Is Effective and Appropriate, Improving Safe Medicine Use, Enhancing Patient Knowledge, Encouraging Adherence and Therapy Continuation etc.