【亚开行】弥合非传染性疾病和心理健康的差距：利用技术产生影响-2025.2_47页_1mb

Summary of Bridging Gaps for Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health: Leveraging Technology Innovations for Impact

Core Content

This report summarizes the outcomes of a conference held by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on 18–20 June 2024, titled Bridging Gaps for Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health: Leveraging Technology Innovations for Impact. The event aimed to address the growing burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health disorders in Asia and the Pacific, and to explore how technology can be leveraged to improve early detection, management, and care for these conditions.

The conference was organized as part of ADB’s regional technical assistance (TA) project on Strengthening Integrated Primary Health Care Management of Noncommunicable Diseases, which focuses on supporting developing member countries (DMCs) in Asia and the Pacific through innovative health technologies.

Main Points and Key Findings

1. Rising Burden of NCDs and Mental Health

• NCDs and mental health disorders are leading causes of death and disability in the region.
• With aging populations, NCDs account for nearly three-quarters of deaths in Asia and the Pacific.
• The pandemic has underscored the vulnerability of individuals with NCDs, making it even more urgent to prioritize these issues.

2. Role of Technology in NCD and Mental Health Management

• Technology plays a crucial role in early detection, diagnosis, self-care, and management of NCDs and mental health disorders.
• Innovations such as telemedicine, mobile health (mHealth) applications, digital therapeutics, and AI-driven tools are being increasingly used to improve care at the primary health care (PHC) level.
• These technologies help in decentralizing care, improving access to specialist services, and enabling continuous care for patients.

3. Conference Objectives and Structure

• The conference aimed to share knowledge and solutions among ADB, DMCs, academia, and global experts.
• It included discussions on country experiences, transformative technologies, policy considerations, and innovative financing models.
• A field visit was conducted to demonstrate the implementation of a telemedicine platform in the Philippines.

4. Key Sessions and Outcomes

• Session 1: Focused on country-specific priorities and challenges in managing NCDs and mental health, with case studies from Bangladesh and Indonesia.
• Session 2: Explored transformative technologies that can revolutionize healthcare for NCDs and mental health.
• Session 3: Shared experiences and lessons learned for managing NCDs and mental health, with a vision for the Asia and Pacific region.
• Session 4: Highlighted regional and country programs, with insights from academic networks.
• Session 5: Discussed considerations for technology adoption and regulations.
• Session 6: Featured the unveiling of a digital directory of NCD and mental health innovations.
• Session 7: Addressed the life course approach to healthy aging and NCD/mental health care.
• Session 8: Explored innovative financing models to support health care for NCDs and mental health.

5. Case Studies

• Bangladesh:

  • The country has a pluralistic health system and is working on the "big four" NCDs (CVDs, diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases, and cancers).
  • The STEPwise approach (STEPS) identified key risk factors such as tobacco use, high salt intake, and obesity.
  • NCD corners have been established with digital tools for blood pressure and blood sugar monitoring.
  • Government initiatives include the Multisector Action Plan for NCDs, National Guidelines for Hypertension and Diabetes, and workforce training programs.
  • The Simple app dashboard has improved hypertension and diabetes control rates.

• Indonesia:

  • Mental health and NCDs are significant challenges among the elderly population.
  • Over 1 million older people in Indonesia experience behavioral or emotional issues, with 6.6% showing symptoms of depression.
  • 69.8% of older people are diagnosed with more than one NCD.
  • There is a strong stigma associated with mental health, making it difficult to access professional caregivers.
  • Only 10% of older people are cared for by professional caregivers, with most relying on family or informal support.

6. Technology and Policy Integration

• The conference emphasized the need for an integrated approach to NCD and mental health management within primary health care systems.
• ADB and PATH collaborated to develop a searchable digital directory of applicable technologies for NCDs and mental health.
• The feasibility assessment of winning innovations from the ADB Innovations Challenge was presented, highlighting scalable and effective technologies.
• The event also aimed to identify enablers and barriers for technology scale-up and adoption in health systems.

Key Recommendations and Future Steps

• Develop and deploy innovative, cost-effective, and patient-centered technologies for NCD and mental health management.
• Strengthen health systems through investments in early detection, prevention, and integrated care.
• Foster public-private partnerships to improve access to health services and support sustainable financing models.
• Address the stigma and lack of professional caregivers in mental health care.
• Promote digitalization and use of telemedicine to improve care delivery and health outcomes.

Conclusion

The conference highlighted the critical role of technology in bridging gaps in NCD and mental health care across Asia and the Pacific. It provided a platform for knowledge sharing, collaboration, and the identification of scalable solutions. ADB and PATH continue to support DMCs in implementing these innovations to achieve universal health coverage (UHC) and progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).