James Hazel to take part in FIND event for Global Week of Action on NCDs

James, who is Research Programme Manager for the upcoming 2022 Access to Medicine Index, will be in conversation with Sanjay Sarin, the Vice President of Access at the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND). This will form part of a video series that will be broadcast on FIND’s social media channels between 5 and 8 September during the Global Week for Action on NCDs.

This will be followed by a virtual webinar and live Q&A session on 9 September, where James and other experts will each cover a different aspect of NCD diagnosis. 

The theme for this year's Global Week for Action on NCDs is Invest to Protect, with a focus on prioritising the urgent need for increased NCD financing to prevent and treat NCDs and build resilient health systems that leave no one behind. The series of online events also marks the launch of FIND's new NCD programme.

Insights on NCDs in low- and middle-income countries

The burden of NCDs such as diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular disease, which are a major cause of death and disability globally, is disproportionality severe in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Accurate and timely diagnosis of NCDs is critical. Among other key issues, James will be discussing innovation in diagnostics, the role of diagnostics in the healthcare delivery system, and challenges to expanding access in LMICs.

By sharing insights from the Access to Medicine Index, he will highlight current innovations, initiatives and strategies that are addressing the need for access to cheaper, faster, and more reliable diagnostic tools and platforms in LMICs – and discuss what is required to foster further development in this field.