The Northern Territory preventable chronic disease strategy--promoting an integrated and life course approach to chronic disease in Australia.

The need for an integrated and life course approach to the prevention and control of chronic diseases is increasingly being recognised. This paper describes the development of the Northern Territory Preventable Chronic Disease Strategy (PCDS), the strategic framework and evidence base, the design of implementation and monitoring phases, and early outcomes. The PCDS is premised on the belief that the major chronic diseases, and their common underlying risk factors, are potentially preventable. The structural challenges to larger jurisdictions taking such an integrated approach are undoubtedly larger, but the benefits are potentially great. Continuing with a series of vertical programs aimed at each single noncommunicable disease will not deliver the desired national health outcomes.