Hypertension, diabetes, and other noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are now the leading cause of death and disability worldwide. They account for 74% of all deaths, with 77% in low- and middle-income countries—and the toll is rising. These deaths disproportionately affect people in their most productive years, threatening household stability and national development. This shift is unfolding within health systems still grappling with the burden of infectious disease and structured around episodic care rather than the long-term management that chronic conditions require. Meeting global targets—like the Sustainable Development Goal to reduce premature mortality from NCDs by one-third by 2030—will require strong primary health systems that deliver continuous, person-centered care.
CMMB’s Response
Our Noncommunicable Disease Impact (NCDI) Initiative helps operationalize that shift. Piloted in Kenya, following baseline studies, the initiative expands access to first-line treatment by evolving from a donation-based approach to a hybrid, data-informed model. The initiative strengthens supply chains, trains frontline health workers, supports integration with government systems, and introduces sustainable financing mechanisms.
Central to this approach is NCD commodity security: the reliable availability, affordability, and accessibility of essential medicines and diagnostics at the primary care level. Without them, NCD management breaks down. Stockouts interrupt treatment and increase complications, requiring costly acute care and out-of-pocket expenses. Addressing supply gaps is foundational to building a functional, equitable, and resilient system of care.
Our Long-Term Vision
- Continuous PHC-level access to hypertension and diabetes medication.
- Strengthened commodity security, rational prescribing, facility data systems.
- Expanded community awareness, early screening, retention in care
- Activities aligned with national NCD strategies and government digital platforms.
- Innovative models piloted (e.g., micro donations, revolving funds, zero-profit procurement) toward affordability and reduced reliance on unpredictable donations
Building Operational Strength
Distributing medicines and medical supplies to those in need has been core to CMMB’s mission for a century. Since 2000 alone, CMMB has shipped over $6.3 billion in essential products to 115 countries, with a donation pipeline valued at $278 million in 2024 as well as longstanding partnerships and a logistics infrastructure that reached more than 4,300 health facilities in 32 countries. The NCDI Initiative builds on that operational strength.
Investments in this effort support CMMB efforts to shift the global response to NCDs from fragmented interventions to structured, scalable systems rooted in primary care. Solutions are embedded within country-led platforms, with a focus on long-term viability and local ownership. Improvements endure, supported by digital tools that track stock movement and treatment data, simplify forecasting, and make health outcomes visible—and this sustainable access strengthens as local capacity grows.
Why It Matters
The NCDI Initiative is a practical, scalable solution to an urgent global health challenge. It addresses a critical current shortfall in NCD care while building systems to meet future demand. It protects continuity of care, reduces catastrophic health costs, and preserves human capital.