Introduction From 13 to 15 December 2022, a significant gathering of global and regional stakeholders and experts took place in Cairo, Egypt. The purpose of the meeting was to address the integration of noncommunicable disease (NCD) care in emergency preparedness and response. This event marked the first in a series of meetings leading up to the...

Introduction: Oman’s journey towards understanding and controlling cancer trends Oman recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of its population-based cancer registry, a significant milestone in the country's efforts to fight cancer. With cancer being recognized as a major health issue in Oman, the establishment of this registry in 1996 was a...

Introduction: Surveying the NCD burden, assessing risk factors and driving change Pakistan initiated a comprehensive STEPS survey to assess the burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and their associated risk factors. With NCDs being a leading cause of death and disability in the country, the Ministry of Health undertook this survey in two...

Introduction: Integrating NCDs into primary care for enhanced data collection and tailored initiatives The integration of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) into primary care in Oman has proven to be a valuable approach for data collection and surveillance of selected NCDs. This initiative, led by the Ministry of Health, has enabled the assessment of...

Introduction: Improving cancer data collection and initiating the Basmah initiative The Ministry of Health and Prevention in United Arab Emirates (UAE) established the UAE national cancer registry to gather comprehensive data on cancer diagnoses among UAE residents. This registry has played a pivotal role in informing the National Cancer Control...

Introduction: Establishing Qatar's comprehensive death registry system The Ministry of Public Health in Qatar has successfully established its death registry system, aimed at gathering comprehensive and accurate data on death rates. This system plays a crucial role in formulating evidence-informed policies and programmes, as well as measuring...

Telemedicine in Sudan Telemedicine was implemented in Sudan to address the significant disruption in healthcare services caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) accounted for 52% of deaths in Sudan, with half of them being premature. The primary healthcare centers operated by the Federal Ministry of Health served as the...

Telemedicine and mHealth in United Arab Emirates Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) pose a significant public health challenge in United Arab Emirates, requiring ongoing and long-term management services. NCDs are the leading causes of death and disability in United Arab Emirates, accounting for 77% of deaths in 2018. Among these NCD-related deaths,...

Digital health and telemedicine approaches In the Islamic Republic of Iran, noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) contribute to approximately 81% of all deaths, with a 15% probability of death between the ages of 30 and 70 due to the four main NCDs. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, digital health and telemedicine modalities were adopted to ensure...

Remote tobacco cessation services in Jordan The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown measures disrupted access to tobacco cessation services provided through traditional clinics. To address this issue, the Ministry of Health collaborated with the Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship and the National Call Center to establish a...