Presentation (CTI)

OBJECTIVES: Non-communicable disease (NCD) policy frameworks in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries provide strategic direction for prevention and control efforts. These frameworks vary in their level of advancement, with many primarily emphasizing screening and surveillance activities. This study examines whether GCC national NCD policy frameworks extend beyond screening and surveillance toward outcome-based and economic evaluation approaches in the prevention and control of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.
METHODS: A comparative mixed-methods sub-analysis was conducted using data from the Gulf Center for Disease Prevention and Control policy mapping study. Policy-related documents from six GCC countries were reviewed and triangulated with 17 stakeholder interviews. The analysis focused on the presence of screening programs, outcome indicators, economic evaluation, and feedback mechanisms linking performance data to policy revision.
RESULTS: A total of 168 policy-related documents across GCC countries were identified and analyzed. Screening programs, population surveys, and monitoring frameworks were widely present across policy documents, particularly for early detection and risk factor surveillance. However, outcome-based evaluation was inconsistently reflected across frameworks. Many documents lacked detailed reporting of program outcomes, standardized baseline measures, and explicit mechanisms linking performance data to policy refinement. Economic evaluation was also inconsistently applied across countries. Stakeholders reported fragmented reporting systems, limited cross-sector data sharing, and constrained capacity for impact assessment.
CONCLUSIONS: GCC countries have established strong foundations for screening-oriented NCD prevention. However, the integration of outcome-based and economic evaluation remains limited. Strengthening indicator frameworks, improving integration of routine data into policy review processes, and enhancing consistency in outcome and economic evaluation may support greater accountability and enable more value-driven implementation.