Distinguished delegates,

People with NCDs face disproportionate suffering and increased vulnerability due to the pandemic, conflicts, and the climate crisis.

Only 19 states and territories are on track to achieve the NCD target SDG 3.4. Progress has stalled since 2015. This stagnation is not due to a lack of evidence, but as a result of underinvestment in health systems and health-harming industry interference.

The 2025 UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs and Mental Health offers a key opportunity for Member States to review progress and renew political commitment.

We urge Member States to demonstrate leadership on NCDs by engaging at the highest political level on 25 September, delivering a strong political declaration that calls for:

- Accelerating implementation of evidence-based NCD policies, equitable access to diagnostics, health products and strengthening the health workforce.

- Breaking down silos to bring NCDs into the center of the global health and development agendas and integrating NCD interventions into PHC, UHC benefits packages, climate crisis and humanitarian programmes.

- Setting financing targets by increasing health taxes on tobacco, alcohol, and sugar-sweetened beverages.

- Delivering accountability through regular reporting on an updated set of measurable targets, like sex, age and disability disaggregated data.

Engagement with communities, civil society, and people living with NCDs will be key to delivering impact. We urge you to ensure that the HLM process remains free from conflicts of interest. We align with NCDA’s Call to Lead on NCDs.