Following the fourth UN HLM on NCDs and Mental Health, this report warns about stalled progress in reducing NCD mortality and morbidity. Persistent inequalities and regional disparities remain, and where people live continues to determine their risk of dying prematurely from NCDs.

We therefore applaud governments for adopting the Political Declaration, welcoming the broad support demonstrated by MS, civil society, alongside governments’ commitment to establish new NCD targets and recommitment to many of the previous HLM’ principles.

Nevertheless, we express our strong concern about the significant influence of health-harming industries, which weakened the outcome, including less ambitious commitments on NCD prevention, the removal of the health taxes target, and the omission of any reference to fossil fuels as key drivers of NCDs.

We urge MS to:
Accelerate implementation of evidence-based NCD interventions, prioritising the guidance in WHO's NCD 'best buys' and other recommended interventions, including strengthening health taxes

Break down siloes by establishing whole-of-government accountability for NCDs through national plans that place NCDs at the centre of health agendas, enable cross-government coordination, and address links with other health priorities.

Mobilise and sustain adequate investment for NCD services, aligning resources with national disease burdens, ensuring that all NCD strategies are fully costed, as well as increasing domestic resource mobilisation, including through fiscal policies and leveraging international resources for catalytic investment.

Deliver accountability, supporting the update of the Global NCD Monitoring Framework, through harmonising reporting requirements and aligning the framework with other global commitments, to ensure continuity with hard-won progress.

Engage communities, institutionalising social participation in the development, implementation and evaluation of NCD responses.