Washington, DC., 14 December (PAHO/WHO). Care for chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a global problem. The vast majority of people with NCDs do not receive appropriate care. Only around half are diagnosed, and among these patients, only half are treated. Among the quarter of people with NCDs who do receive care, only half achieve the desired clinical treatment targets. Cumulatively, only around one in ten people with chronic conditions are treated successfully. This is mainly the result of inadequate management, but also of insufficient access to care and the existence of numerous financial barriers.

To address this problem, PAHO is preparing evidence based recommendations on chronic illness care. For this, PAHO has convened an expert working group “Organizing and delivering High Quality Care for Chronic Non-Communicable conditions in the Americas" will take place in Washington DC on December 13-14 , 2012. The group of 25 health professionals from Argentina, Barbados, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Jamaica, Mexico, Spain and the United Sates will review evidences for the implementation of chronic care in the Americas.

The group meeting this week in Washington DC includes national representatives of chronic diseases in various countries, university professors, officials from PAHO, the World Bank, and the Inter- American Development Bank as well as renowned experts and auth0orities in the area of chronic care.