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Focus Areas

Program Financing and Economics for Noncommunicable Diseases

Applying health economics to policies to reduce noncommunicable diseases

In addition to the pain they inflict on individuals, noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) have substantial economic consequences. When people die prematurely or become disabled, the losses spiral outward into society, resulting in lower productivity and missed opportunities. Low- and middle-income countries are projected to lose an estimated $21.3 trillion in economic output due to the cumulative effects of NCDs between 2011-2030.

Working with partners around the globe, RTI experts bring extensive knowledge of health economics, budgeting, and financing to help countries prevent and manage NCDs. RTI offers decades of experience developing and applying analytical tools and modeling expertise to measure and improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of health care and interventions to prevent and manage NCDs.  

Our researchers work to improve the health financing landscape for NCDs by identifying trends, gaps, and opportunities to finance ways to address major risk factors and reduce NCD prevalence, and to improve the quality of health service delivery and address financial barriers to health services. By analyzing the long-term costs and benefits of different NCD strategies and interventions, we help policy makers, health care industry leaders, and funding partners to know the value of good policy decisions, measure cost-effectiveness, improve health service delivery, and prioritize strategies with high returns on investment.

Framework Convention on Tobacco Control
Framework Convention on Tobacco Control

Project Highlight

Making the Case for Tobacco Control in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Recognizing the substantial burden of tobacco use, RTI works with country partners and the United Nations Development Programme to prepare investment cases to demonstrate the health and economic benefit of adopting strong tobacco control policies. Focusing on the economic rationale for tobacco control, investment cases connect with policymakers across the government to demonstrate that tobacco control can be a win-win for development. Investment cases have been used to inform the development of new tobacco control legislation in more than 20 countries, including Georgia, Zambia, and Cabo Verde.