Priority actions for the non communicable disease crisis
566 www.thelancet.com Vol 378 August 13, 2011 of proven cost eff ective and aff ordable inter ventions to address them. We advocate the strengthening of health systems, and in particular primary health services for long term patientcentred care; such a focus will benefi t patients with mental illnesses as well as people with other chronic disorders. We agree with Nicholas Freudenberg that there is a need to confront industries that profi t from unhealthy products and contribute to the rising NCD burden. We support the full range of fi scal, market, regulatory, legislative, and educational measures to reduce the NCD burden. The history of tobacco control reveals that inter action with such industries cannot simply be viewed as "partnerships" Dialogue with industry excluding the tobacco industry should be based on a shared vision of public health goals and independent monitoring of progress and commitments.
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