Strengthening Primary Health Care for Non-Communicable Diseases and Environmental Change

Strengthening systems, building capacity, and improving lives through digital health innovation and workforce strategies

The NIHR Global Health Research Centre for Non-communicable Diseases and Environmental Change aims to engage policy makers, health workers, patients and communities to support and strengthen health care systems. The centre’s approach integrates innovative digital platforms, capacity building and community engagement to address the dual challenge of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and environmental change.

Background:

Method:

As part of the NIHR GHRC strategy, SMARThealth will be upgraded to capture Non-Communicable Diseases, behavioural, and environmental risk factors through:

a) Expanded Clinical Decision Support System for Multimorbidities (India & Indonesia): SMARThealth Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS) for diabetes, cardiovascular disease (CVD), chronic kidney disease (CKD), integrated with a heat- health risk assessment module in India. And, SMARThealth CDSS for CVD and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), in Indonesia.

b) Early Warning System for Heat (India): Timely and actionable heat early warning messages and alerts for individuals, community health workers, and healthcare providers to effectively respond to periods of high heat, especially extreme weather events such as heat waves.

c) Heat – health dashboards (India): Near real-time monitoring based on weather trends and health status at primary health centers and district level.

d) Common Data Platform (India & Indonesia): Integrated system for environmental, behavioural, and clinical data to support timely decision-making and advocacy.