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The Arab Spring: Confronting the challenge of non-communicable disease

Journal of Public Health Policy volume 34, pages 345–352 (2013)Cite this article

Abstract

This Commentary considers the health system and policy challenges of addressing non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Egypt, Libya, and Tunisia, countries in the process of re-framing state policies and institutions, including in the health sector. Against this backdrop, a neglected issue of the rapidly rising burden of NCDs threatens both health and economic development. Tackling this worrisome rise in NCDs has been impeded by inadequate policies. Weak health systems, little attention to determinants of health, and limited access to affordable health care complicate effective responses to NCDs, especially in a fragile transitional phase. There remains an opportunity to confront the neglected challenge of NCDs by substantially strengthening policies and scaling up comprehensive health systems to more effectively address the causes and treatment of NCDs, including mental health, ultimately to improve population health overall.

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Author information

Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, 15–17 Tavistock Place, London, WC1H 9SH, UK

    Bayard Roberts

  2. Department of War Studies, King’s College London, UK

    Preeti Patel

  3. Public Health Consultant, London, UK

    Maysoon Dahab

  4. Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK

    Martin McKee

Authors
  1. Bayard Roberts
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  2. Preeti Patel
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  3. Maysoon Dahab
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  4. Martin McKee
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bayard Roberts.

Additional information

A rising tide of NCDs in the Arab Spring countries requires strong policies and scale up of health systems to address population health and its determinants, more comprehensively.

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Roberts, B., Patel, P., Dahab, M. et al. The Arab Spring: Confronting the challenge of non-communicable disease. J Public Health Pol 34, 345–352 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1057/jphp.2013.14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/jphp.2013.14

Keywords

  • Arab
  • NCDs
  • health systems
  • health policy