Health is Wealth! But simply saying it is not enough. It requires discussion and brainstorming. Gearing towards strengthening effective and innovative interventions against non-communicable disease (NCD), bureaucrats, parliamentarians, community, and local government officials held a policy dialogue in Thimphu on 20th October.
The day-long dialogue discussed the recommendations made by the parliamentarians which asked for a comprehensive and cost-effective framework to accelerate NCD responses in the country.
According to the Dy. Dean of Post-Graduate Medicine at the Kheser Gyalpo University of Medical Sciences, Dr. Karma Tenzin, such dialogues will help them understand how health, wellbeing, and happiness are being implemented in different policies.
“We want to capture a few, good and strong recommendations which we can submit to the government and relevant agencies which could be taken forward in terms of policy, legislation, and regulations,” he said.
He added that it would also help them sort out the best practices and submit them to the government and relevant agencies so that they could incorporate the best practices in their policy, legislation, and regulations.
Of the 11 recommendations made by the parliament, some of the key areas of focus include incorporation of diet, nutrition, and physical and mental health in government programs, and promotion of holistic healthy lifestyles in schools.
The recommendations also call for the strengthening of health services for early diagnoses of diseases and meaningful engagement by civil societies and community leaders to improve responses to NCDs.
The policy document will be submitted to the prime minister’s office and other relevant agencies for necessary intervention.
Meanwhile, according to the Multi-Sectoral National Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases, hypertension, stroke, and cancers account for nearly 70 percent of deaths in the country.
Choni Dema, Thimphu
Edited by Chayku
