31 The Northern Territory Preventable Chronic Disease Strategy – promoting an integrated and life course approach to chronic disease in Australia T ARUN WEERAMANTHRI, SHIRLEY HENDY , CHRISTINE CONNORS, DAVID ASHBRIDGE, CHERYL RAE, MAREE DUNN, MAREA FITTOCK, JENNY CLEARY , L YNETTE O’DONOHOE, STEVE MORTON AND NOELENE SWANSON. Tarun Weeramanthri is Community Physician at Centre for Disease Control. Shirley Hendy was Chief Health Officer of the NT. Christine Connors is NT Preventable Chronic Disease Program Director (Acting). David Ashbridge is Assistant Secretary, Health Services. Cheryl Rae was Director of Health Gains Planning Unit. Maree Dunn and Marea Fittock were Total Recall Coordinators, Top End Services Network. Jenny Cleary is Director of Health Development and Oral Health Programs. Lynette O’Donoghue is a Wellness Promotion Policy Officer. Steve Morton was Chronic Diseases Network Project Officer. Noelene Swanson is Director of Health Services Policy. All authors are or were employed by NT Department of Health and Community Services (DHCS), previously named Territory Health Services (THS). Abstract 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. The burden of chronic diseases Chronic diseases are simply defined as ‘illnesses that are prolonged, do not resolve spontaneously, and are rarely cured completely’ (Davis et al., 1999). They share a number of common underlying risk factors, most notably social determinants (including poverty and inequality), poor nutrition, inadequate environmental health conditions, physical inactivity, alcohol misuse and tobacco smoking (Brownson et al., 1998; Marmot & Wilkinson, 1999). However, most health systems have been developed to respond to acute rather than chronic illnesses. In acute illness, professionals knowledgeable about the disease can offer an accurate prognosis and cure is likely. The Northern Territory Preventable Chronic Disease Strategy – promoting an integrated and life course approach to chronic disease in Australia