Missing in action: international aid agencies in poor countries to fight chronic disease.

Chronic conditions are not just a problem for industrialized countries; they also affect more than a billion people in low- and middle-income countries. This Perspective shows how some middle-income countries are beginning to respond to the growing cost and prevalence of noncommunicable chronic diseases (NCDs). The primary message here, however, is that low-income countries will need substantial international assistance to confront the growing cost and burden of disease associated with NCDs. Evidence from middle-income countries suggests that there are low-cost, cost-effective ways to prevent and treat NCDs in low-income countries.