On the occasion of World Health Day, JA-CHRODIS launches policy brief that helps identify the key enablers and barriers to the development, implementation and sustainability of national diabetes plans (NDPs) in Europe.

The policy brief aims to support countries’ efforts to build a successful and comprehensive strategy for the prevention and the management of diabetes and, more broadly, chronic diseases. It draws on a mapping of NDPs in Europe and intends to facilitate the exchange of good practices.

Although countries in Europe have made progress towards developing a systematic policy response to the diabetes burden, overall the investment in and implementation of comprehensive strategies for the prevention and care of diabetes has varied, while the burden of diabetes has kept increasing and thus poses important challenges to individuals and health systems.

The most recent figures by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) suggest that in 2015 415 million people were living with diabetes globally[1]. Diabetes is associated with a highindividual, social and economic burden. In the European Region diabetes alone was estimated to be responsible for 9% of the total health expenditure[1].

The policy brief identified a range of factors that appear to facilitate the development, implementation and sustainability of national diabetes plans. These include national (or regional) leadership, multiple stakeholder involvement, patient representation in plan development and implementation, and dedicated resources, among others.

The identified key challenges include the need for countries to move towards a more comprehensive, inter-sectoral approach to diabetes, and to put in place effective mechanisms for research and the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of NDPs. It would allow countries to learn from experience and apply their knowledge to chronic diseases.

“A better understanding of the key enablers and barriers is of utmost importance to support countries’ efforts to build a successful response to diabetes at the national level”, said DrJelka Zaletel from the National Institute of Public Health of Slovenia (NIJZ).  “However it is crucial to obtain commitment at the highest political levels towards the prevention and control of diabetes and, more broadly, chronic diseases, and to ensure that these are translated into action”, said Marina Maggini from the Italian Health Institute (ISS).

The policy brief was coordinated on behalf of JA-CHRODIS by the NIJZ and the ISS. It is being launched on World Health Day 2016 which focuses on diabetes and aims to trigger specific, effective and affordable actions to tackle diabetes. The Policy Brief can be found here.

Notes to editors:

1.  The Joint Action on Chronic Diseases and Promoting Healthy Ageing across the LifeCycle (JA-CHRODIS) has received funding from the European Union, in the framework of the Health Programme (2008-2013). This European collaboration brings together over 70associated and collaborating partners from e.g. national and regional departments of health, research institutions and other organisations from 23 EU Member States as well as Norway and Iceland. Please see: www.chrodis.eu

2.  JA-CHRODIS selected diabetes as an example and ‘tracer’ in order to demonstrate the importance of the holistic approaches to the prevention and care of chronic diseases and the potential for intersectoral working.

For more information:
Contact the JA-CHRODIS Coordination team: info@chrodis.eu/ +34 91 822 2868

Policy Brief coordinators: jelka.zaletel@kclj.si; marina.maggini@iss.it

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* This press release arises from the Joint Action addressing chronic diseases and healthy ageing across the life cycle (JA-CHRODIS) which has received funding from the European Union, under the framework of the Health Programme (2008-2013).