Millennium Development Goals and non-communicable diseases: an online discussion

- Précis of the online discussion [link]

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) have become firmly established in the strategies and funding of aid agencies, the UN and governments. However, the MDGs do not mention chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs). In the 10 years since the MDGs were drawn up, it has become evident that the burden of NCD has been rapidly rising in low- and middle-income countries. This online discussion is to canvass opinion, to contribute to developing a consensus on the most fruitful ways in which to bring NCDs into the development agenda – particularly as the MDGs, as currently constituted, are set to come to an end in 2015.

The site is enabled with easy-to-use ‘comment’ software. Its aim is to provoke discussion – it does not seek to provide answers. We hope that health professionals, NCD NGOs and development professionals and others will read the document and contribute to this conversation. The views of those living with the effects of chronic diseases and poverty in developing countries would be particularly welcome.

- Précis of the online discussion [link]
- Main document [link]
- List of the MDGs, targets and indicators [link]
- How the MDGs are impacted by NCD [link]
- List of sources [link]

We hope to hold a meeting of some of the key contributors to the discussion, with a view to producing a consensus document, which could then be used to advocate for NCDs in the development agenda.

Over the next five years there will be much discussion about how the MDGs might be reconstituted to make them future-proof, sustainable and effective after 2015, and if the case is to be made for the inclusion of NCDs, this will require consistent messages, delivered at key points and by key people and organisation.