Non-communicable diseases burden and national policy response in Papua New Guinea: a scoping and policy review

The rising prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), particularly cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and type 2 diabetes mellitus, presents a significant challenge in Papua New Guinea (PNG), contributing to increased morbidity and premature mortality. However, epidemiological data and evidence on the implementation of targeted policies remain limited. This study aims to assess the burden of major NCDs, along with risk factors, and review national policies targeting NCD prevention and control in PNG.

A combined scoping and policy review was conducted. The scoping review involved a systematic search of PubMed, EMBASE and Google Scholar databases to identify peer-reviewed and grey literature published between 2004 and 2024. A total of 15 records were included, addressing NCD prevalence, mortality and risk factors in PNG. Narrative synthesis was performed to summarise these findings. For the policy review, nine national NCD prevention and control policies were retrieved. Thematic analysis was conducted using the WHO Health System Building Blocks Framework.

The findings highlighted an increasing burden of NCDs and prevalence of related risk factors, particularly hypertension, tobacco use, obesity, alcohol consumption and physical inactivity. The available, though limited, data suggested an increasing mortality trend, with CVDs and cancers as the leading causes of death. While some national policies address components of NCD prevention and control, significant gaps persist. These include inadequate integration of NCD services into primary healthcare, insufficient surveillance and health information systems, workforce shortages, lack of sustainable financing and weak decentralised governance structures.

Effectively addressing the burden of NCDs in PNG requires strengthening health system capacity through evidence-based planning, improved surveillance, targeted investments in prevention and care, and consistent implementation of NCD strategies across all levels of the health system. However, the limited and uneven quality of available data constrains firm conclusions, underscoring the urgent need for more robust and nationally representative NCD surveillance.