The approval was announced in Mogadishu on October 25, 2026, with the Ministry of Health calling for the package to be integrated into routine services at primary healthcare facilities across the country.

Government institutions, health organisations and development partners have been urged to prioritise implementation and align their technical support with national health priorities and guidance from the World Health Organization (WHO).

The PEN package is designed to help health systems identify and manage noncommunicable diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, chronic respiratory conditions and certain cancers.

These illnesses often require long-term care and can lead to serious complications when diagnosis and treatment are delayed.

For Somalia, expanding access to these services through primary healthcare could help patients receive screening, diagnosis, counselling and ongoing treatment closer to their communities, reducing the need for some to travel long distances to specialised hospitals.

Noncommunicable diseases are an increasing public health concern worldwide, particularly in countries where health systems face limited resources and competing demands from infectious diseases, malnutrition and emergencies.

Early diagnosis and continued access to essential medicines are important in reducing preventable complications and deaths.

The WHO’s PEN framework provides practical, cost-conscious interventions that countries can adapt to strengthen the management of chronic diseases at the primary-care level.

Its effectiveness, however, depends on adequate staffing, reliable supplies of medicines and diagnostic equipment, sustainable financing and proper referral systems for patients requiring specialist care.

The Somali health ministry has called on implementing partners to align their programmes and resources with the newly approved package, signalling that the next priority is translating the policy into services that patients can access.

The approval represents a policy milestone for Somalia’s health sector. Its longer-term impact will depend on how quickly the package is rolled out, the number of facilities equipped to deliver the services and whether people across urban and rural communities can obtain affordable, continuous care.

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