Current Hot Topics in Noncommunicable diseases and health systems

Noncommunicable diseases (NCD) are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Governments need to provide preventative, curative, and even palliative services to meet this challenge. This course will present current “Hot Topics” with regards to NCDs and health system responses. It will provide an overview of the role of health systems and then present a variety of key issues facing health systems and the delivery of care for NCDs. Involving a variety of speakers from different backgrounds, the course will explore different facets of the role that health systems play in addressing the burden of NCDs, as well as future challenges. Illustrative examples of hot topics include Access to medicines, NCDs in humanitarian settings, UHC, Prevention of disease progression, End-of-life care, and many more. Active participation and sharing of experiences by the course participants will be fostered.

By the end of the course participants will:

• Understand the key building blocks of health systems;
• Have an overview of different challenges facing health systems with regards to NCDs;
• Explore different solutions to existing challenges for health systems responses.

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No prerequisites are needed for this introductory course. The course targets participants interested in health systems and NCDs. The course will be of interest to participants with various backgrounds and interested in working in global health.

• Introductory lectures on:
  - NCD;
  - Health Systems;
• Hot topic presentations by leading experts in different fields;
• Group discussion and exchanges between participants.

In order to get the Certificate of completion and the 1 ECTS participants MUST:

• Attend at least 80% of the course;
• Attend the plenary offered during the first day of the course;
• Actively participate in group discussions;
• Work in a group to prepare the final presentation which will serve as an assignment for the course.

At least one facilitator will be on-site in Lugano, and some may join online. Participants are welcomed to join either on-site in Lugano, or online. In case of a change of regional policies (e.g., Covid) or personal reasons, the course could change to online. For those on-site, the course will take place at Università della Svizzera italiana (USI).

For course pricing information, see here. Discounts are available for participants from LMICs, PhD and Master Students, and Students and Employees from the LSS Partner Universities (SSPH+, USI, SUPSI, and SWISS TPH).  

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