2020 CONCORDIA ANNUAL SUMMIT

Investing in a Healthier Tomorrow

Main Stage

Programming Partner: U.S. Chamber of Commerce

• Killing more than 40 million people each year, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) make up the “silent pandemic,” Myron Brilliant explained, and will end up killing more people than the coronavirus. Diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer are just some NCDs that heavily impact today’s population. Science is now showing that people with these diseases are most susceptible to medical implications if contracting COVID-19. 
• Walking us through the NCD crisis, Michelle Williams stressed the importance of investing in global public health in the wake of COVID-19. NCDs—once labeled “diseases of the affluent”—are mostly driven by social determinants and impact those living in poverty. Factors related to where we live, where we work, and how we work impact our susceptibility. There are significant economic consequences at the national level due to a lack of focus on NCDs. 

“Governments must recognize that NCDs are a multi-sectoral problem. We must form effective public-private partnerships and use better data to identify places to stage interventions to mitigate NCDs,” Michelle Williams

• Muhammad Ali Pate was quick to advise governments to deal with strategic health, as populations continue to suffer due to a lack of education and support around NCDs. Ultimately, both governments and corporations have to recognize that this is a multi-sectoral issue. Effective public-private partnerships are critical in promoting health and wellness. When systems come together, such as donors, NGOs, and governmental organizations, greater progress is made. 
• COVID-19 has made it clear that a public health lens is vital to ensuring that we make the most of the moment we are in.

“COVID-19 has made it very clear that healthcare needs to consist of a public and global approach. COVID has taught us that every country needs to invest in health, and that investing in medicine is not a privilege,” Muhammad Ali Pate