Poor people, communities and countries are disproportionately affected by NCDs. This is primarily due to increased exposure to risk factors and lack of access to health services. Increased prevalence of NCDs is one consequence of poverty; it is also a cause of it.

Right now, at least 1.4 billion people are facing catastrophic or impoverishing health expenditure, because they have to pay directly for services, medications, and other related expenses like travel to health centres. And this is just the tip of the iceberg - the true cost of NCDs reaches much deeper. In households where resources are already tightly stretched, people are forced to make difficult decisions; buying the insulin they require or food for their family, paying for radiotherapy or education for children, going into debt to treat a chronic illness or losing their health or their life... these are decisions that should never be made, yet they are, millions of times each day. NCDs perpetuate poverty, and factors like debt and discontinued education create a cycle that is passed on from generation to generation.

NCD also deplete national economies, widening the gap between rich and poor countries and putting the brake on development. Together, the five leading NCDs – cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease, cancer, diabetes, and mental health and neurological conditions – have been estimated to cost more than US$2 trillion per year (or US$47 trillion between 2011-2030). Annual losses due to NCDs range from 3.5% – 5.9% of total GDP, and the amount they will cost developing countries alone between 2011 and 2025 will be $7 trillion, equivalent to the combined annual GDP of France, Spain, and Germany.

The ability to enjoy the best health possible is a human right, but it is not everyone is able to see this right fulfilled. In fact, most cannot. At least half of the world’s population does not currently have full coverage of basic health services, with the vast majority of these people living in low- and middle-income countries. And if it is difficult to see a doctor and be treated for a relatively simple illness, imagine trying to get quality care for a noncommunicable disease, which often require expensive long-term or lifelong treatment. These are just a few statistics to show how the care gap affects people living with NCDs:

• Half of adults living with diabetes are unable to access the insulin they need; hypertension is only under medical control for one in five people; 
• Chronic kidney disease tends to go untreated, with up to 90% of cases undiagnosed until lifesaving dialysis or a transplant is needed;
• More than 90% of cancer patients in low-income countries lack access to radiotherapy.

The most common reason that people cannot access quality care is cost. Many people in LMICs do not have health coverage, or their coverage is too limited, so they are forced to pay for care out-of-pocket. Millions of people are pushed into extreme poverty each year due to out-of-pocket payments for healthcare. Many more die from treatable diseases because they cannot afford to pay for care. 

However, there are other barriers to care as well. Many times, people live too far from health centres to realistically visit them when needed, especially if regular care is required. Other times, services are simply not available, or are too low-quality to be effective. For instance, 47% of the global population (3.8 billion), and 81% in low- and lower-middle income countries, have little to no access to core diagnostic tools, including laboratory diagnostics and diagnostic imaging. 8.6 million avoidable deaths occur each year due to low quality or underused care in LMICs. 
 

Despite their prevalence and impact, we have the tools to turn the tide on this chronic epidemic. An estimated 80% of NCDs can be delayed into old age or prevented altogether by reducing exposure to the main NCD risk factors - tobacco, alcohol, unhealthy diets, lack of physical activity and air pollution.

The WHO best buys for NCD prevention and control are a set of proven interventions to reduce exposure to NCD risk factors. They are cost effective and have an average return on investment of 12 to one. A 2022 study published in the Lancet builds on the best buys, adding several low-cost, high-impact interventions for NCD care. It demonstrates that by introducing a realistic and cost-effective package of 21 NCD prevention and treatment interventions, governments could avert 39 million deaths in low- and middle-income countries. These interventions could generate an average net economic benefit of $2.7 trillion, or $390 per capita, between 2023 and 2030. Implementing this set of interventions would require an additional investment of US$18 billion annually over the same seven-year period—the equivalent of the world's health ministries collectively dedicating 20% of their budgets to NCDs. The economic benefits of implementing this package outweigh the investment by 19 to one.

Taxes and regulations on unhealthy products are key interventions to improve population health and generate funds that can be channelled into NCD prevention and treatment, but these policies are usually met with strong opposition from the industries concerned. A priority for collective action is to counter industry efforts to influence policies at the expense of our health. Civil society action is key to making progress on this, and the UN High-Level Meeting on UHC in September will be an important opportunity. Watch these short videos to see how Mexico and Barbados are taking action against the ultra-processed food industry.

Leadership on NCDs means taking bold action to put the health and wellbeing of people and planet first, ahead of the interests of powerful multi-national corporations from health-harming industries like fossil fuels, ultra-processed foods, tobacco and alcohol. It means following through on commitments made with the policies and investments that are required to achieve them – and doing it now. 

We know what works to make progress on NCDs, and all countries – even those which have few resources – can save lives and money by putting the right policies in place. There is no excuse for continued inaction.

We need leaders to step up and be among the trailblazers who are walking the talk, who can be part of the critical mass that is needed to turn the tide on avoidable suffering and death caused by NCDs.

The ability to enjoy the best health possible is a human right, but not everyone is able to see this right fulfilled. In fact, most cannot. At least half of the world’s population does not currently have full coverage of basic health services.  Most of these people live in low- and middle-income countries. And if it is difficult to see a doctor and be treated for a relatively simple illness, imagine trying to get quality care for a noncommunicable disease, which often requires expensive long-term or lifelong treatment. These are just a few statistics that highlight the urgent need for leadership on NCDs:

• Half of adults living with diabetes are unable to access the insulin they need – in sub-Saharan Africa this number is one in seven; 
• Hypertension is only under medical control for one in five people globally; 
• Chronic kidney disease tends to go untreated, with up to 90% of cases undiagnosed until lifesaving dialysis or a transplant is needed, which is unavailable or inaccessible for many people especially in LMICs; 
• More than 90% of cancer patients in low-income countries lack access to radiotherapy.

The most common reason that people cannot access quality care is cost. Many people in LMICs do not have health coverage, or their coverage is too limited, so they are forced to pay for care out-of-pocket. Millions of people are pushed into extreme poverty each year due to out-of-pocket payments for healthcare. Many more die from treatable diseases because they cannot afford to pay for care.  

However, there are other barriers to care as well. Many times, people live too far from health centres to realistically visit them when needed, especially if regular care is required. Other times, services are simply not available, or are too low-quality to be effective. For instance, 47% of the global population (3.8 billion), and 81% in low- and lower-middle income countries, have little to no access to core diagnostic tools, including laboratory diagnostics and diagnostic imaging. 8.6 million avoidable deaths occur each year due to low quality or underused care in LMICs.  

Leaders need to prioritize health equity through people-centred care that includes all NCDs. Beyond health, NCDs are a matter of human rights and justice.  

The United Nations General Assembly, the main decision-making body of the UN representing all 193 Member States and governments, calls a United Nations High-Level Meeting (UN HLM) to focus on specific issues that require global political dialogue. There have been three UN HLMs on NCDs.  In September 2025 there will be a fourth HLM on NCDs which will focus on renewing commitments and accelerating actions to prevent and control NCDs by 2030.

UN HLMs serve to increase awareness of an issue and to build consensus and commitment on the way forward. A UN HLM will result in a consensus statement such as a political declaration, outcome document or statement which all UN Member States commit to.

Civil society works to influence these statements; so do health-harming industries. This is why we need everyone to get involved and act on NCDs. See how you can Take Action.

All countries – and especially LMICs – can achieve or nearly achieve SDG 3.4, saving 39 million lives by 2030, by introducing a cost-effective package of NCD prevention and treatment interventions.

The WHO Best Buys are among the most effective NCD interventions – that is, they are affordable for all countries and guarantee a big return on investment in lives and money saved.

More specifically, the Best Buys are set of 16 NCD interventions which focus on preventing NCDs by addressing the major NCD risk factors – tobacco use, alcohol use, unhealthy diets and inadequate physical activity – and management of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cervical cancer. These interventions require on average an additional US$0.84 per year, per person in LMICs, with a return of US$7 for every dollar invested.

A 2022 analysis fully aligned with and building on the WHO Best Buys looked at a broader package of 21 NCD prevention and treatment interventions that can form the backbone of effective national NCD strategies. The analysis revealed that nearly all countries can still achieve SDG

3.4 by 2030 by implementing locally tailored packages of cost-effective NCD interventions. Implementing this set of interventions will require, on average, an additional US$18 billion annually over 2023–30; and is projected to avert 39 million deaths in LMICs and generate an average net economic benefit of $2·7 trillion, or $390 per capita. The economic benefits of this package outweigh costs by 19:1.

It’s time for a bold new perspective that values and measures human and planetary health and wellbeing, rather than short term economic gains. We can create a fairer and healthier world by implementing evidence-based solutions for tackling NCDs. 

NCDA is calling on governments ahead of the UN HLM to create a fairer and healthier world by implementing evidence-based solutions for tackling NCDs. We need leadership to turn government commitments into reality now. These are our five priorities:

• ACCELERATE IMPLEMENTATION: It’s time for governments to spark change. Fast-track national implementation of NCD policy recommendations to drive rapid progress towards universal health and well-being, ensuring no one is left behind. It’s time to lead. ​
• BREAK DOWN SILOES: Together, we can break down siloes and achieve stronger outcomes that surpass traditional boundaries. Leaders can achieve more through Integrated action.  
• MOBILISE INVESTMENT: Unleash vital funding for NCD prevention and care to align resources with the magnitude of the challenge. World leaders can trigger impactful investment for healthier societies. ​
• DELIVER ACCOUNTABILITY: Keep tabs, measure progress, and honour commitments for NCD prevention and care for the long haul. It's about leaders staying true to their promises, holding themselves accountable, and delivering on commitments to better health for all. ​  
• ENGAGE COMMUNITIES: Activate community leadership and put people living with NCDs at the heart of NCD response collaborations.

We are asking everyone from community leaders to global leaders to step to take up the leadership baton.  You can take the lead on NCDs by:  

• Engaging with your local government officials, especially those in charge of policy or decision-making. Share with them the information on the burden of NCDs.
• Connecting with NCD advocates and the NCD community in your area.  
• Demanding that your government listen to and includes people living with NCDs in their policy-making processes.  
• Attend and support NCD events and activities near you.  You can find information here:  https://actonncds.org/events

Join us in the Global Week for Action on NCDs!