In a continued mission to reduce the global burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes, Medtronic Inc and the Medtronic Foundation today announced a new commitment designed to improve healthcare systems and increase access to life-saving therapies.

In addition to the company's focus on improving access to critical medical technologies in lower- and middle-income countries, the commitment includes an additional $3.4 million in Medtronic Foundation grants to support international health programs specifically designed to address prevention, treatment and control of NCDs.

Medtronic is focusing activities in three primary areas: global policy and advocacy, strengthening health systems and developing innovative therapies, and healthcare delivery models in countries around the world.

"The human and societal opportunity we have to provide access to better healthcare to patients who need it most is enormous," says Medtronic's CEO Omar Ishrak. "Our mission calls upon us to work with the global community to help find solutions for people who today do not have sufficient access to adequate healthcare.ʺ

Since September 2010, the Medtronic Foundation has committed $3.8 million in grants to support international programs related to Medtronic's overall strategic effort, including a $1 million founding grant to the NCD Alliance, a coalition of nonprofit organizations charged with preparing data-driven plans and recommendations for the United Nations High Level Meeting on the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases, being held Sept 19¨C20 in New York City.

The $3.4 million in Medtronic Foundation grants includes:

• A $500,000, two-year grant to the Harvard School of Public Health to launch "Teaching to Transform Global Health," an initiative to develop an educational curriculum accessible to schools of public health, medicine and nursing in any country, designed to address critical public health issues, including NCDs.
• A series of grants totaling $600,000 to the World Heart Federation and seven other organizations to fund coordinated activities to promote the global prevention and control of Rheumatic Heart Disease. Grants will fund various partners in India, Africa, and Latin America.
• An additional $400,000 over the next two years to support research and training on the prevention and management of NCDs in China, India, Africa, and Latin America by NCD regional centers of excellence, such as those established by UnitedHealth and the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.