BACKGROUND :

The Secretariat of the Prince Mahidol Award Conference (PMAC), together with the Institute for Population and Social Research and Mahidol University, have commissioned the Health Intervention and Technology Assessment Program (HITAP) to develop an evidence package for best buys, wasted buys, and Do-It-Yourself (DIY) interventions for preventing Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD). The project commenced in May 2018 and the finished product, in the form of a book, will be launched at PMAC 2020. This work will explore interventions for NCD prevention that should and should not be invested in by governments and individuals. Specifically, the project aims to describe common characteristics and system-related factors that are conducive for implementing best buys and disinvesting from wasted buys. The role of government, health authorities, media and civil society in promoting and incentivizing DIYs, with case studies, is also explored. The political economy of ‘best buys’, ‘wasted buys’, and DIYs for NCDs, is examined to answer questions such as why and how do governments not implement a ‘best buy’, why are wasted buy interventions implemented, why governments find it hard to promote DIYs and how can one can change course to achieve desired outcomes. Last but not least, the work aims to propose potential solutions on how to identify and assess locally relevant initiatives in promoting best buys and DIYs as well as preventing or bringing an end to wasted buys in public health policy. At the time of PMAC 2019, the project will have reached its halfway point and obtaining feedback on the preliminary results from key reviewers from and diverse settings will be a crucial next step to help drive the project forward. PMAC conference 2019 is the perfect platform to host our side meeting given the conference will attract experts in the field to deliberate on NCDs. Commentators will receive the draft chapters prior to the session and be asked to draw on their own experience and expertise when commenting. Presentations will be followed by an interactive discussion among all attendees. The meeting format will follow a structured interactive approach where the chair will facilitate the discussion; and thus, currently there is no specified time slot for each discussion item. Reviewers will have opportunity to share their comments on draft which will be sent one month before meeting. Reviewers, NCD managers, and journal editors will have an option to share their work using different methods (such as powerpoint slides and interactive sharing of comments).