Moving Towards Optimized Noncommunicable Disease Management in the ASEAN Region: Recommendations from a Review and Multidisciplinary Expert Panel.

INTRODUCTION: Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states. Progress has been slow despite the World Health Organization action plan for the prevention and control of NCDs in the region. This paper presents recommendations focused on practical strategies for optimizing NCD management in the ASEAN region. METHODS: A multidisciplinary group of experts from six ASEAN member states convened for two face-to-face meetings to discuss barriers and possible recommendations for optimizing NCD management, focused on cardiovascular diseases and mental disorders, in the region. Multiple approaches, ie, analysis of insights from the meetings and a review of existing literature on NCD programs in the ASEAN region were followed. The proposed recommendations were also based on selected successful interventions in ASEAN member states, thus providing actionable strategies. RESULTS: The gaps identified in NCD management for cardiovascular diseases and mental disorders in the ASEAN region were classified into gaps relating to policies and to clinical and public health practice. The proposed solutions addressing policy gaps include fostering multisectoral public-private partnerships, employing "whole-of-government" and "whole-of-society" approaches and promoting "health-in-all policies approach" to manage issues with financing, accessibility, efficiency and quality of health services. Whereas proposed solutions to bridge clinical and public health practice gaps entail strengthening primary care services, building the capacity of trained healthcare workers and employing collaborative care for holistic management of patients. CONCLUSION: The scale of premature and preventable deaths from NCDs in the ASEAN region remains a serious public health concern and requires a "whole-of-system approach". The interventions proposed in this paper build on regional collaborations and knowledge sharing to help develop a concerted and targeted response to NCDs.

Mental health model of care programmes after the tsunami in Aceh, Indonesia.

Before the tsunami, there was no systematic training provided for General Practitioners (GPs) and nurses in issues related to mental health and psychosocial support in times of disasters. After the tsunami, the Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia in Jakarta was contracted to organize a special two-week intensive training programme on basic psychiatry for 13 GPs from Banda Aceh Mental Hospital. To improve the nursing practice, a Professional Nursing Practice Model (MPKP) has been piloted in two wards in Banda Aceh Mental Hospital. This is a model of best practice for nursing care and management in an open ward system developed by the School of Nursing group and implemented in several mental hospitals in Indonesia. Basic training of GPs located at the primary healthcare level is being carried out based on the existing Ministry of Health curriculum for GPs. It covers 14 conditions listed in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) Primary Care classification and has been conducted in 11 tsunami-affected districts. Currently, a total of 169 GPs have been trained. In general, there is an increasing interest among primary care doctors in mental health. Currently, community mental healthcare is provided in 11 districts in Aceh and two districts in North Sumatra by 277 Community Mental Health Nurses (CMHN) who have received basic training. Two thousand six hundred and two cases of serious mental disorders (mostly chronic psychosis) have been detected and treated by the CMHN and the doctors in Primary Health Centres (PHC). CMHN can provide a vital link between patients in the community and doctors in PHC. Two years after the earthquake and tsunami in Aceh, psychosocial intervention should continue and mental healthcare should be made available not only at Banda Aceh Mental Hospital, but also general health services, including PHC services.

Disaster mental health preparedness plan in Indonesia.

The tsunami brought into focus many issues related to mental health and psychosocial distress. A prompt response to the disaster relies on existing disaster management plans so that appropriate interventions can be put in place in order to meet the needs of the affected populations. The response must involve both physical and psychological aspects of care. The Indonesian experience was unique in a number of ways and it allowed us to explore the lessons in order to develop strategies to maximize the resources in order to ensure that the whole affected population was cared for. Massive destruction of the physical structures and the work force made the task particularly difficult. Existing policies did not include psychosocial efforts in the plan. However, mental health and psychosocial relief efforts are now being integrated into the disaster preparedness plan of Indonesia. To further implement the plan, a strong community mental health system is being developed. This system will be able to deliver mental health and psychosocial interventions on a routine basis and could be scaled up in times of disasters.