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  1. Pettigrew S, Coyle D, McKenzie B, Vu D, Lim SC, Berasi K, et al.
    PMID: 37384259 DOI: 10.1016/j.lansea.2022.05.006
    Front-of-pack nutrition labelling is an evidence-based nutrition intervention that is recommended by the World Health Organization and other health agencies as an effective non-communicable disease prevention strategy. To date, the types of front-of-pack labels that have been identified as being most effective have yet to be implemented in Southeast Asia. This has been partly attributed to extensive industry interference in nutrition policy development and implementation. This paper outlines the current state of food labelling policy in the region, describes observed industry interference tactics, and provides recommendations for how governments in Southeast Asia can address this interference to deliver best-practice nutrition labelling to improve diets at the population level. The experiences of four focal countries - Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Viet Nam - are highlighted to provide insights into the range of industry tactics that are serving to prevent optimal food labelling policies from being developed and implemented.

    FUNDING: This research was supported by the United Kingdom Global Better Health Programme, which is managed by the United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and supported by PricewaterhouseCoopers in Southeast Asia.

  2. Haregu T, Lim SC, Miranda M, Pham CT, Nguyen N, Suya I, et al.
    PMID: 37843178 DOI: 10.4103/WHO-SEAJPH.WHO-SEAJPH_140_22
    INTRODUCTION: The Better Health Program has been addressing key health system issues in the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines. As the program comes to an end, the sustainability and scaling-up of issues have assumed importance.

    OBJECTIVES: The objective is to assess how well sustainability and scale-up strategies have been integrated into the design and implementation of a 3-year multicountry technical program; to explore enablers and barriers of sustainability and scaling up; and to identify practical strategies that can improve sustainability and scale-up of Better Health Program interventions.

    METHODS: We applied a staged approach to explore barriers and enablers and to identify practical strategies to improve sustainability and scale-up of four NCD interventions: community-based obesity prevention, front-of-pack labeling, local learning networks (LLNs), and NCD surveillance. We extracted evidence from peer-reviewed literature and local documents. We also conducted in-depth interviews with the implementation teams and key stakeholders. We conducted a thematic synthesis of the resulting information to identify practical strategies that improve sustainability and scale-up of the four interventions.

    RESULTS: Strong engagement of stakeholders at higher levels of the health system was identified as the main enabler, while limited funding and commitment from local governments were identified as a key barrier to sustainability and scale-up. Strengthening the social and institutional anchors of community health volunteers, enhancing evidence-based advocacy for front-of-pack labeling, trailblazing the LLN innovation, and securing the commitment of local governments in the implementation of NCD surveillance were among the key strategies for improving sustainability and scale-up of Better Health Program interventions in Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, and Vietnam, respectively.

    CONCLUSIONS: This study identified practical strategies for improving sustainability and scale-up of NCD-related interventions. Implementation of the strategies that had high priority and feasibility will improve the sustainability of critical elements of the program in the respective countries.

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