About this Research Topic
We have seen the global burden of disease shift significantly from communicable diseases to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) over the past few decades, partly due to the changing demographics with the aging of the population outsourcing from the western world and later spreading to become a global phenomenon, but also due to the changing lifestyles of people making cardiovascular diseases the biggest cause of mortality worldwide. There has also been a steady rise in deaths due to cancers, road traffic accidents and mental health conditions, with all of them now a permanent feature in the top ten causes of death globally. This has also meant a so-called “double burden” for low and middle-income countries (LMICs) where both communicable diseases and NCDs coexist together.
It is predicted that by 2020 seven out of ten deaths in developing countries will be attributed to NCDs, so significant reallocation of funds is needed to effectively support the treatment and management of their populations in the future. This shift to a chronic disease management model from acute care has serious economic implications and needs a complete re-shaping and re-configuring of healthcare financing mechanisms within most health systems in the coming years. Once again, significant challenges are foreseen in LMICs where infrastructure for care is still primarily driven by the infectious disease model and as long-term continued care needed for the treatment of NCDs, is at odds with the out of pocket payment models common in LMICs, this presents serious challenges. It is expected that this transition in health may push developing countries further into poverty unless new public funding mechanisms are developed and appropriate public-private partnerships organized.
Keeping in mind all of these issues we would like to welcome the submission of different article types to this Research Topic. We are mostly interested in manuscripts focusing on the economic impact
of NCDs burden today to healthcare systems and the mechanisms thar are currently used by governments and healthcare agencies to revert that, at a local, national or international level.
- We welcome original research and method articles using methodologies or mix methods at the author’s disposal. The variety or article types offered by Frontiers could help to shape the findings and perspectives that are about to be conveyed to a broad professional audience.
- We are particularly interested in diverse submissions in terms of areas of scientific interest and geographic regions worldwide. Studies coming from LMICs on this phenomenon will be given priority conditional to decent methodological quality.
It is predicted that by 2020 seven out of ten deaths in developing countries will be attributed to NCDs, so significant reallocation of funds is needed to effectively support the treatment and management of their populations in the future. This shift to a chronic disease management model from acute care has serious economic implications and needs a complete re-shaping and re-configuring of healthcare financing mechanisms within most health systems in the coming years. Once again, significant challenges are foreseen in LMICs where infrastructure for care is still primarily driven by the infectious disease model and as long-term continued care needed for the treatment of NCDs, is at odds with the out of pocket payment models common in LMICs, this presents serious challenges. It is expected that this transition in health may push developing countries further into poverty unless new public funding mechanisms are developed and appropriate public-private partnerships organized.
Keeping in mind all of these issues we would like to welcome the submission of different article types to this Research Topic. We are mostly interested in manuscripts focusing on the economic impact
of NCDs burden today to healthcare systems and the mechanisms thar are currently used by governments and healthcare agencies to revert that, at a local, national or international level.
- We welcome original research and method articles using methodologies or mix methods at the author’s disposal. The variety or article types offered by Frontiers could help to shape the findings and perspectives that are about to be conveyed to a broad professional audience.
- We are particularly interested in diverse submissions in terms of areas of scientific interest and geographic regions worldwide. Studies coming from LMICs on this phenomenon will be given priority conditional to decent methodological quality.
Keywords: non-communicable diseases, chronic disease management, costs, healthcare financing, resource allocation
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
