Jayasree K. Iyer to chair panel on barriers to NCDs in sub-Saharan Africa
“For the poor in Africa, the barriers to treatment for lifestyle diseases, such as cancer, diabetes or heart disease, are generally very high,” says Jayasree. “Diagnosis and treatment are often complex and expensive, even where the facilities exist within reasonable distances. In TICAD, we have a forum for talking about real solutions. There are plenty of good ideas and best practices out there that need more attention.”
Jayasree will chair a multi-disciplinary panel of experts, including academics, NGO leaders, government ministers, pharma industry representatives and health practitioners from sub-Saharan Africa. Together, they will unpick the main challenges to providing access to care for patients with non-communicable diseases:
What prevents people in Africa from accessing treatments for cancer, diabetes and other non-communicable diseases?
What does best practice look like for improving African healthcare systems?
What role is there for public-private partnerships and what are the alternatives?
What is the role for ‘Big Data’ in improving healthcare systems?
The panelists are:
Marc Dybul, Executive Director, Global Fund
Dr Meshack Ndirangu, Kenya Country Director, AMREF health Africa
Dr. Patricia Odero, East Africa Regional Director, Social Entrepreneurship Accelerator, Duke University
Dr. Kibachio Joseph Mwangi, Head of NCD Division, Ministry of Health Kenya
Dr Emmanuel Ndahiro, Rwanda Military Hospital
Prof. Raj Jutley, Chairman, Pan-Africa Heart Foundation
Giles Platford, President, Emerging Markets, Takeda
Dr. Chite Asirwa, Medical Co-Director, Ampath Hematology Oncology.