Table 3.

Suggested approaches to strengthen services in tropical countries to deal with communicable and non-communicable diseases

	Integrated approach to disease prediction and control
Integration of care
Prevention	Innovative model for incentives to prevent infectious and non-communicable diseases129
Screening	Screening HIV patients for cardiovascular risk factors130
Care	Integration of care for diabetes and tuberculosis6
Technical solutions
Simplified diagnostics	Smartphone applications to replace laboratory immunoassays131
Disease monitoring	Use of new collective methods and digital images132
Electronic health	Text messages to increase adherence to antiretroviral therapies133
Depot medication	Simplify chronic treatment using depot medication134
Health service delivery
Task-shifting	Diabetes management shifted from senior health workers towards nurses135, 136
Peer support	Peer support for diabetes and hypertension patients137, 138
Work-based support	Health prevention and treatment in work environments139, 140
Funding
Government	Commitment to UN declaration to mobilise funds for medication141
Research	Scholarships for studies in global health with preference for combining communicable and non-communicable diseases