The World Health Organization’s Evidenced-Based Approach to Chronic Diseases: Primary Prevention or Caring for End-Stage Disease?

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Tom Judd, MS, PE, CCE, CPHQ, FACCE

Summer 2009 - Volume 13 Number 3

http://dx.doi.org/10.7812/TPP/09-009

Introduction

Phillip Tuso, MD's, commentary excellently describes the difficult challenge of caring for people in Ethiopia with chronic kidney disease. Dr Tuso raises a very important question: How much should a developing country invest in caring for the end-stage disease state versus extensive revamping of primary care to enhance preventive interventions? On the basis of 20 years of experience as a World Health Organization (WHO) consultant, I would like to discuss how WHO addresses this important question.