01655nas a2200193   4500000000100000008004100001653003900042653000900081653000900090653002000099653002400119653001800143100001600161700001400177700001300191245008300204520116000287022001401447       2016                            d10aNeglected tropical diseases (NTDs)10aNGOs10aSDGs10aDisease control10aDisease elimination10aHealth Policy1 aMolyneux DH1 aSavioli L1 aEngels D00aNeglected tropical diseases: progress towards addressing the chronic pandemic.3 a<p>The concept of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) emerged more than a decade ago and has been recognised as a valid way to categorise diseases that affect the poorest individuals. Substantial progress in control and elimination has been achieved and policy momentum has been generated through continued bilateral, philanthropic, and non-governmental development organisation (NGDO) support, and donations of drugs from pharmaceutical companies. WHO has defined a Roadmap to reach 2020 targets, which was endorsed by member states in a World Health Assembly Resolution in 2013. NTDs have been included within the Sustainable Development Goal targets and are a crucial component of universal health coverage, conceptualised as "leaving no one behind". WHO reported that more than 1 billion people in 88 countries have benefited from preventive chemotherapy in 2014. The research agenda has defined the need for affordable products (diagnostics, drugs and insecticides). However challenges such as insecurity and weak health systems continue to prevail in the poorest countries, inhibiting progress in scaling up and also in achieving Roadmap goals.</p>
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