Non-Communicable diseases responsible for 40 million deaths globally every year

Copenhagen : Non-Communicable diseases (NCDs) are responsible for 40 million deaths globally every year.'The scale of the NCD crisis is immense, as is the need for accelerated and strengthened action across multiple sectors and stakeholders globally,' said Dr Svetlana Axelrod, WHO’s Assistant Director-General for NCDs and Mental Health.'Only by working together in new partnerships and investing the right levels of resources will we be able to protect people from NCDs and provide the care they need.'Denmark is co-hosting the WHO Global Dialogue in Copenhagen from April 9 to 11.

At the Dialogue in Copenhagen, delegates from WHO Member States, development agencies, United Nations agencies and nongovernmental organisations, academia, philanthropic organisations and business associations will explore new ways to address the critical gap in financing for national NCD responses.'Ultimately, it is governments' responsibility to secure resources for health, but all stakeholders, including the private sector, can play a major role in moving the NCD agenda forward,' Dr Axelrod added.

Premature mortality from NCDs – such as cardiovascular disease leading to heart attacks and strokes, cancers, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases – constitutes a major global health and development challenge, as these diseases often kill people at a time when they are most productive in the workforce.

While NCDs affect both rich and poor countries, their burden is rising disproportionately among lower-income countries, with an immense impact on economic growth.'Business as usual will not work any longer regarding the NCDs. The global burden and challenge of NCDs is of such scale and magnitude that it requires thinking out of the box and new partnerships and financing mechanisms,' says Denmark’s Minister for Development Cooperation, Ulla Tørnæs.'Partnerships hold the key to a healthier future and to the realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals,' she adds. 

The Dialogue will focus on how international cooperation can mobilise domestic and external financing streams, as well as on aligning private sector financing in support of national responses to chronic diseases – with due respect to conflicts of interest.The Global Dialogue will take stock of the progress made since 2011 in funding national NCD responses. It will also showcase examples of best practices on how to align public and private interests in order to accelerate action on NCD prevention and control.

At a youth innovation lab at the Dialogue, 20 talented young people from 16 countries will work together to generate innovative ideas and solutions that can help close the financing gap for NCDs.The Dialogue is the first global multistakeholder meeting to discuss the current NCD financing landscape and demonstrate the synergies between financing NCD responses and broader efforts to strengthen health systems for universal health coverage and health for all.(UNI)