Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of NCDs
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| Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of NCDs | |
|---|---|
| Name | Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of NCDs |
| Jurisdiction | World Health Organization |
| Formed | 2013 |
Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of NCDs provides a coordinated international framework to reduce the burden of noncommunicable diseases through evidence-based policies, targets, and multisectoral actions. Initiated under the auspices of the World Health Organization and endorsed by the World Health Assembly, the plan aligns with commitments made at the United Nations General Assembly high-level meetings on NCDs and complements goals articulated in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Background and Development
The plan emerged from a sequence of policy milestones including the 2011 United Nations General Assembly high-level meeting on NCDs, resolutions of the World Health Assembly, and technical guidance produced by the World Health Organization. Key actors in its development included member states such as United States, United Kingdom, India, China, and South Africa, as well as global institutions like the World Bank, United Nations Development Programme, and nongovernmental actors including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Médecins Sans Frontières. Scientific inputs derived from bodies such as the International Agency for Research on Cancer, the Global Burden of Disease Study collaborators, and academic centers including Harvard University and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. The plan draws on precedents in global health diplomacy exemplified by the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and lessons from vertical programmes such as those led by UNAIDS and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
Strategic Objectives and Targets
The plan articulates time-bound targets and strategic objectives mirroring commitments in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Core objectives include reducing premature mortality from NCDs, strengthening surveillance systems like those used in Global Burden of Disease Study networks, and increasing access to essential medicines listed by the World Health Organization. Specific targets relate to reductions in tobacco use, harmful use of alcohol, unhealthy diets and physical inactivity, and improvements in primary health care as promoted by the World Health Assembly and regional fora such as the Pan American Health Organization and the European Commission. The plan sets an overarching mortality reduction goal consistent with the SDG target on NCDs supported by endorsements from the G7 and G20.
Priority Interventions and Best Practices
Priority interventions emphasize policy and clinical measures validated by randomized trials and implementation research from institutions like Johns Hopkins University and Imperial College London. Interventions include taxation and regulation exemplified by tobacco control measures under the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and fiscal policies adopted in Mexico and Australia; salt reduction strategies informed by the World Heart Federation and research at the University of Cambridge; alcohol control measures promoted by the Pan American Health Organization; and clinical management protocols aligned with guidance from the International Diabetes Federation and American Heart Association. Best practices span health promotion in schools as supported by UNICEF and workplace interventions modeled after programs in Sweden and Japan.
Implementation and Monitoring Framework
Implementation relies on national action plans, multisectoral coordinating mechanisms, and monitoring through indicators harmonized with the Sustainable Development Goals and the Global Health Observatory. Surveillance draws on surveys and registries used by Eurostat, the Demographic and Health Surveys, and cancer registries coordinated by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Reporting pathways link national ministries to regional offices such as the World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa and global reporting at the World Health Assembly. Evaluation methodologies reference standards from the Cochrane Collaboration and guidance from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Global and Regional Partnerships
The plan fosters partnerships with multilateral organizations including the World Bank, United Nations Population Fund, and World Trade Organization where policy coherence is required. Regional collaboration occurs through bodies such as the European Commission, African Union, and Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Technical and philanthropic partners include the Wellcome Trust, Rockefeller Foundation, and academic consortia like the Global Health Council. Civil society and patient organizations such as the NCD Alliance and disease-specific groups like American Cancer Society and International Diabetes Federation play roles in advocacy and service delivery.
Funding, Resource Mobilization, and Health System Integration
Financing strategies combine domestic health budgets, international development assistance from donors like the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and United States Agency for International Development, and innovative mechanisms promoted by entities such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Integration into primary health care systems references policy frameworks from the World Health Organization and financing models evaluated by the World Bank and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Fiscal measures—taxation on tobacco and sugary beverages—have been applied in jurisdictions including Chile and Philippines to both reduce risk exposure and raise revenues for health.
Impact, Progress, and Challenges
Progress has been uneven: some countries report declines in tobacco prevalence and improved hypertension control informed by programmes in Finland and Canada, while rising diabetes prevalence in settings such as Saudi Arabia and Mexico demonstrates persistent challenges. Obstacles include competing political priorities highlighted in meetings at the United Nations General Assembly, commercial determinants of health involving multinational corporations headquartered in United States and Switzerland, and gaps in financing and workforce capacity noted by the World Health Organization and World Bank. Ongoing evaluation by research groups at Harvard University and regional offices of the World Health Organization continues to refine interventions and guide policy implementation.