PEN-Plus approach
Kartavya Desk Staff
Context: The WHO African Region released a report, highlighting that 20 African countries have expanded access to critical services for severe non-communicable diseases (NCDs) by adopting the PEN-Plus approach.
About PEN-Plus Approach:
• What it is? PEN-Plus stands for Package of Essential Non-communicable Disease interventions Plus. It is an integrated healthcare model aimed at managing severe and chronic NCDs at secondary-level health facilities.
• PEN-Plus stands for Package of Essential Non-communicable Disease interventions Plus.
• It is an integrated healthcare model aimed at managing severe and chronic NCDs at secondary-level health facilities.
• Nations using it: Successfully implemented in Rwanda, Liberia, Malawi, and now expanded to 20 African countries.
• Aim: To decentralize diagnosis and management of severe NCDs like type-1 diabetes, rheumatic heart disease, sickle-cell disease, severe hypertension, and persistent asthma. Ensure access to care for children and young adults living in extreme poverty.
• To decentralize diagnosis and management of severe NCDs like type-1 diabetes, rheumatic heart disease, sickle-cell disease, severe hypertension, and persistent asthma.
• Ensure access to care for children and young adults living in extreme poverty.
• How it works? Training nurses and clinical officers to deliver essential services like diagnosis, treatment, symptom management, and psychosocial support. Expanding healthcare delivery to secondary-level health centers, close to rural and underserved communities.
• Training nurses and clinical officers to deliver essential services like diagnosis, treatment, symptom management, and psychosocial support.
• Expanding healthcare delivery to secondary-level health centers, close to rural and underserved communities.
Relevance in UPSC Exam Syllabus
• GS Paper 2: Governance, Health Policies, Government interventions for vulnerable sections.
• GS Paper 3: Issues related to Health, Inclusive Growth, and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-being).
• International Relations: Role of WHO, Global Health Initiatives, India’s learning from African public health innovations.