José Luis Castro, The Union’s Executive Director, has joined forces with over 50 health experts in a letter published in The Lancet, calling for concerted, bold and committed action on non-communicable diseases (NCDs), in advance of a critical United Nations High-Level Meeting (UN HLM) on NCDS on 27 September in New York.
The letter, ‘The how: a message for the UN HLM on NCDs’ – also includes signatories from Ministries of Health, the United Nations, civil society organisations and academics, and issues an eight-point plan to propel the response to the global NCD epidemic, urging the UN HLM on NCDs to incorporate the points into their draft declaration.
The proposed plan for member state HLM negotiations is summarised in The Lancet as follows:
- Assign accountability at the highest political levels
- Prioritise improving fiscal policies
- Mobilise additional financial resources
- Regulate the commercial determinants
- Address the growing impact of pollution and urbanisation on NCDs, injuries and mental health
- Support meaningful civil society engagement
- Uphold principles of equity, human rights and gender equality
- Foster independent accountability
For a detailed explanation of each agenda point, read more here.
José Luis Castro said recently, “Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the world’s greatest threat to health today. They include all cancers, diabetes and other non-infectious conditions and are the leading cause of death and disability worldwide – responsible for 40 million deaths every year, 15 million of which are premature. Without the impetus from countries and their leadership to commit to action, the trajectory of death and disability from NCDs can only go in one direction.”
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