WHO high-level commission launches report on NCDs

On 1 June 2018, the WHO High-Level Independent Commission on NCDs launched its report entitled "Time to deliver: report of the WHO Independent High-Level Commission on Noncommunicable Diseases" This is an important step as it outlines the strategies required by various stakeholders to tackle the growing burden of disease.

The reason that this has been so important is that progress to date has been severely inadequate and out of step with the growing burden of NCDs and mental and neurological health. It is well understood that if the current pace of progress continues unabated, by 2030 the agreed Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target to reduce NCD mortality will not be achieved, failing millions of people and challenging the achievement of all other SDG targets and goals within and beyond health.

The WHO Commission will continue its work until 2019 and will provide input into the United Nations High Level Meeting (UNHLM) planned for 27 September 2018. This UNHLM will be the third time meeting on NCDs. This meeting provides the opportunity to evaluate progress on NCDs within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals.

It is also an opportunity to focus global and national attention on NCDs, review progress, renew political commitments and make new, ambitious and timebound commitments to tackle the burden of NCDs. Through the ICN President, who is a member of the Commission, we continue to actively support this process and remain committed to moving forward with the Commission’s recommendations.