Each year non-communicable diseases such as cardio-vascular diseases, diabetes and cancer kill over 40 million people around the world – with over 80% of victims in developing and emerging countries. The vast majority of these fatalities are avoidable. In order to understand the root causes of this global epidemic, it is imperative to scrutinise the role of the internationally operating food, drink and tobacco industries. To counter these disease-causing factors on a global scale, action by international politics is required. And: to help people who are affected in poor countries, healthcare systems must be ready to cope with this epidemic.
Non-communicable, chronic diseases pose a huge challenge to national healthcare systems as well as international health politics. The following factors drive their spread and hamper their control:
- changes in consumer behaviour driven by globalised trade
- the flooding of markets with unhealthy food, drink and other products
- unplanned urbanisation
- healthcare centres insufficiently prepared to deal with non-communicable diseases
- insufficient access to prevention, diagnosis and treatment
The international community and national governments alike must act. Millions of people can be prevented from having to live with or die from a non-communicable disease via the successful implementation of the goals of the UN Agenda 2030 (SDGs) or the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Global Action Plan.
An important milestone in the fight against non-communicable diseases will be reached in 2018 with the UN High Level Meeting on NCDs: the MMS Symposium offers an excellent opportunity to establish the fundamentals for a Swiss position statement.
Lectures, Workshops and Debates
At the MMS Symposium experts and practitioners from the international healthcare community will discuss the following key issues:
- The causes of the global NCD epidemic and strategies taken by Switzerland and the international community to combat them.
- Ways to prepare healthcare providers in emerging and developing countries for the challenges of non-communicable diseases
Keynote speaker Alejandro Calvillo Unna, Mexico
He received a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana and has carried out doctoral studies in Philosophy at the Universidad de Barcelona (pending degree). Alejandro was a founding member of Greenpeace Mexico before founding the consumer rights organization El Poder del Consumidor in 2006, where he serves as the current director. With El Poder del Consumidor, Alejandro has been a central actor from the civil society to obtain a soda tax in Mexico.
Other speakers
Nora Kronig Romero, head of international affairs division, FOPH
Manfred Zahorka, head of sexual and reproductive health unit, Swiss TPH
As well as representatives from civil society, research, politics and SDC.
The symposium is part of a long-term cooperation agreement with the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation SDC.
A special thanks goes to the Novartis Foundation, SolidarMed and the Swiss Red Cross for their generous financial contribution.
Date & Time
November, 02 2017; 09:00 – 16:30 h
Venue
Pullman Hotel, Basel
Find your way to the conference.
Language
Translations to German, French and English will be provided
Information
Network Medicus Mundi Switzerland
Phone: ++41 (0)61 383 18 10, E-Mail
Charges
Standardcharge: CHF 170
MMS members: CHF 80
Students: CHF 80
Registration
Registered participants who do not within 24 hours before the start of the conference will have to pay the full amount.
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