Governance of WHO’s leadership and coordination role in promoting and monitoring global action against noncommunicable diseases

World Health Assembly

In 2000, the World Health Assembly adopted resolution WHA53.17 on the WHO Global Strategy on Noncommunicable Diseases, which linked four of the most prominent NCDs (cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic respiratory disease, and diabetes) to four preventable risk factors (tobacco use, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, and the harmful use of alcohol).

In 2013, the World Health Assembly endorsed the ‘WHO Global Action Plan 2013-2020 for the Prevention and Control of NCDs, which comprises a set of action which, when performed collectively by Member States and other stakeholders, will tackle the growing public-health burden imposed by NCDs.  In 2019, the World Health Assembly extended the period of the action plan to 2030.

United Nations General Assembly

In 2011, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the first Political Declaration on the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases, which acknowledged that noncommunicable diseases constitute one of the major challenges for development in the twenty-first century, which undermine social and economic development throughout the world, and threaten the achievement of internationally-agreed development goals.

After the first Political Declaration was adopted in 2011, an inspiring constellation of ministries, international partners and civil society organizations rallied behind the commitments made by the Heads of State and Government. 

After nearly a decade of global health diplomacy, Member States also succeeded in ensuring that the third UN high-level meeting on NCDs (2018) expanded the earlier meetings’ commitments to address four major NCDs and four risk factors. The result was the adoption of a “five-by-five” approach, with mental health conditions now included as an NCD and air pollution as a risk factor.

Global health diplomacy

Global health diplomacy to raise the priority given to the prevention and control of NCDs on domestic, regional and global agendas has been an important component of  WHO’s multilateral system that seeks to contribute to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health as one of the fundamental rights of every human being without distinction of race, religion, political belief, economic or social condition. Global health diplomacy requires the recognition that both science and politics are essential to inform negotiations. The goal of global health diplomacy is to bring about agreements that are scientifically credible and politically achievable.

Global health diplomacy has never been as important for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases, as it is at present. This already became clear when negotiating the role of health in the Sustainable Development Goals, which were adopted in 2015.  Now, during the  COVID-19 pandemic, the need to work together at a multilateral level to ensure better health outcomes for NCDs in  all countries is at its most acute.  In December 2020, the United Nations General Assembly noted with concern that noncommunicable diseases and mental health conditions are the leading causes of premature death and disability globally, and hat people living with noncommunicable diseases are more susceptible to the risk of developing severe COVID-19 symptoms and are among the most affected by the pandemic.

REPORTS OF THE UN SECRETARY-GENERAL ON THE PROGRESS ON THE PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF NCDs

REPORTS OF THE WHO DIRECTOR-GENERAL ON THE PROGRESS ON THE PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF NCDs

INTERSESSIONAL WORK IN PREPARATION FOR THE 150TH SESSION OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD

The WHO Governing Bodies requested the Director-General to submit information about the following 10 assignments on the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases and the promotion of mental health to the 150th session of the Executive Board (see also agenda item 7 of the draft provisional agenda for EB150):

  1. Decision WHA74(10) - Develop an implementation roadmap 2023–2030 for the global action plan for the prevention and control of NCDs 2013–2030
  2. Resolution WHA74.4 - Develop recommendations to strengthen and monitor diabetes responses within national noncommunicable disease programmes, including considering the potential development of targets in this regard
  3. Resolution WHA74.5 - Develop a draft global strategy on oral health
  4. Annex 9 of document EB148/7 in accordance with resolution A/RES/73/2 - Develop recommendations on how to strengthen the design and implementation of policies, including those for resilient health systems and health services and infrastructure to treat people living with NCDs and to prevent and control their risk factors in humanitarian emergencies
  5. Resolution WHA73.2 – Develop a progress report on the implementation of the global strategy to accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer as a public health problem and its associated goals and targets for the period 2020–2030
  6. Decision WHA72(11) – Develop a report on progress achieved in the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases and the promotion of mental health
  7. Resolution WHA73.10 - Develop an intersectoral global action plan on epilepsy and other neurological disorders in support of universal health coverage
  8. Decision EB146(14) - Develop an action plan (2022–2030) to effectively implement the global strategy to reduce the harmful use of alcohol as a public health priority
  9. Resolution WHA74.4 - Develop recommendations for the prevention and management of obesity over the life course, including considering the potential development of targets in this regard
  10. Decision WHA74(11) - Develop a workplan for the WHO global coordination mechanism on the prevention and control of noncommunicable disease.

 

This website summarizes information about the intersessional work being conducted by the Secretariat between June and October 2021 to complete these assignments.

a) Development of an implementation roadmap 2023-2030 for the global action plan for the prevention and control of NCDs 2013-2030

Process:
  • June-August 2021: Member States decided in decision WHA74(10) that Member States and stakeholders would be consulted on the development of an implementation roadmap after EB150. Therefore, until that time, the WHO Secretariat will only consult experts. To this end, WHO regional offices will conduct regional meetings with expert to seek advice. More information
  • 3 September 2021: Information session for civil society, academic institutions, philanthropic foundations, and people living with or affected by noncommunicable diseases.
  • 6-17 September 2021: The WHO Secretariat will convene an Open Discussion Forum on a draft implementation roadmap.  More information
  • 1 October 2021: The Secretariat will submit a draft implementation roadmap for inclusion in the report to EB150 for agenda item 7 (NCDs).


b) Development of recommendations to strengthen and monitor diabetes responses within national noncommunicable disease programmes, including considering the potential development of targets in this regard

Process:
  • 9 August- 17 September 2021: The WHO Secretariat will convene a global web-based consultation for Member States, UN organizations, and non-State actors on draft recommendations and diabetes coverage targets. More information.
  • 31 August 2021: Informal consultation with Member States and UN organizations
  • 1-2 September 2021: Informal consultation with the pharmaceutical industry
  • 3 September 2021: Informal consultation with civil society, academic institutions, philanthropic foundations, and people living with or affected by diabetes.
  • 1 October 2021: The Secretariat will submit draft recommendations and diabetes coverage targets for inclusion in the report to EB150 for agenda item 7 (NCDs).

c) Development of a draft global strategy on oral health

Process:
  • 9 August- 17 September 2021: The WHO Secretariat will convene a global web-based consultation for Member States, UN organizations, and non-State actors on a draft global strategy on oral health. More information.
  • 31 August 2021: Informal consultation with Member States and UN organizations
  • 3 September 2021: Informal consultation with civil society, academic institutions, philanthropic foundations, and people living with or affected by oral diseases.
  • 1 October 2021: The Secretariat will submit a draft global strategy on oral health for inclusion in the report to EB150 for agenda item 7 (NCDs).


d) Development of recommendations on how to strengthen the design and implementation of policies, including those for resilient health systems and health services and infrastructure to treat people living with noncommunicable diseases and to prevent and control their risk factors in humanitarian emergencies

Process:
  • 1 October 2021: The Secretariat will submit draft recommendations for inclusion in the report to EB150 for agenda item 7 (NCDs).


e) Resolution WHA73.2 – Develop a progress report on the global strategy to accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer as a public health problem and its associated goals and targets for the period 2020–2030

Process:
  • 1 October 2021: The Secretariat will submit a progress report for inclusion in the report to EB150 for agenda item 7 (NCDs).


f) Decision WHA72(11) – Develop a report on the progress achieved in the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases and the promotion of mental health

Process:
  • 1 October 2021: The Secretariat will submit a progress report for inclusion in the report to EB150 for agenda item 7 (NCDs ).


g) Development of an intersectoral global action plan on epilepsy and other neurological disorders in support of universal health coverage

Process:

h) Development of an action plan (2022-2030) to effectively implement the global strategy to reduce the harmful use of alcohol as a public health priority

Process:


i) Resolution WHA74.4 - Develop recommendations for the prevention and management of obesity over the life course, including considering the potential development of targets in this regard

Process:
  • 16 August-17 September 2021: The WHO Secretariat will convene a global web-based consultation for Member States, UN organizations, and non-state actors on draft recommendations and obesity targets. More information. 
  • 31 August 2021: Informal consultation with Member States and UN organizations
  • 1-2 September 2021: Informal consultation with the pharmaceutical industry
  • 3 September 2021: Informal consultation with civil society, academic institutions, philanthropic foundations, and people living with or affected by NCDs.
  • 1 October 2021: The Secretariat will submit draft recommendations and targets for inclusion in the report to EB150 for agenda item 7 (NCDs).


j) Development of a workplan for the WHO global coordination mechanism on the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases (GCM/NCD).

Process:
  • 31 August 2021: Informal consultation with Member States and UN organizations
  • 6-20 September 2021: The WHO Secretariat will convene a global web-based consultation for Member States, UN organizations, and non-state actors on a zero draft workplan for the GCM/NCD.
  • 22 September 2021: Informal consultation with non-state actor participants of the GCM/NCD and people living with or affected by noncommunicable diseases on a draft workplan for the GCM/NCD.
  • 24 September 2021: Informal consultation with Member States and UN organizations on a draft workplan for the GCM/NCD.
  • 1 October 2021: The Secretariat will submit a draft workplan for inclusion in the report to EB150 for agenda item 7 (NCDs).

On 31 August 2021, WHO convened an informal consultation of Member States.  The provisional agenda [PDF], opening remarks [PDF], and presentations on agenda items 2 [PDF], 3 [PDF], 4[PDF], 5 [PDF], 6 [PDF], 7a[PDF], 7b [PDF] and 7c [PDF] are posted here.

On 3 September 2021, WHO will convene an informal consultation of NGOs. The provisional agenda [PDF] has been circulated to NGOs in official relations with WHO, as well as NGOs who participated in previous informal consultations of a similar nature.

 

Structure of the report of the WHO Director-General to EB150 on the “Political declaration of the third high-level meeting of the General Assembly on the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases”) (agenda item 7)

The WHO Governing Bodies requested the Director-General to submit information about the following requested actions to the 150th session of the Executive Board:

Decision or resolutionActionLocation in report to EB150
WHA74(10)Present an implementation roadmap 2023–2030 for the global action plan for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases 2013-2030Annex 1
WHA74.4Develop recommendations to strengthen and monitor diabetes responses within national noncommunicable disease programmes, including considering the potential development of targets in this regardAnnex 2
WHA74.5Develop a draft global strategy on oral healthAnnex 3
A/RES/73/21Develop recommendations on how to strengthen the design and implementation of policies, including those for resilient health systems and health services and infrastructure to treat people living with noncommunicable diseases and to prevent and control their risk factors in humanitarian emergenciesAnnex 4
WHA73.10Develop an intersectoral global action plan on epilepsy and other neurological disorders in support of universal health coverageAnnex 7
EB146(14)Develop an action plan (2022-2030) to effectively implement the global strategy to reduce the harmful use of alcohol as a public health priorityAnnex 8
WHA74.4Develop recommendations for the prevention and management of obesity over the life course, including considering the potential development of targets in this regardAnnex 9
WHA74(11)Develop a workplan for the GCM/NCDAnnex 10

____________________________

1 in response to paragraph 40 of A/RES/73/2 and as a follow-up to Annex 9 of EB148/7

The report of the WHO Director-General to EB 150 for agenda item 7 (NCDs)  is also submitted in response to decision WHA72(11) (2019), in which the Health Assembly requests the Director-General “to consolidate reporting on the progress achieved in the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases and the promotion of mental health with an annual report to be submitted to the Health Assembly through the Executive Board, from 2021 to 2031, annexing reports on implementation of relevant resolutions, action plans and strategies, in line with existing reporting mandates and timelines”:

Progress achieved in the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases and the promotion of mental health, including the following topics and the mandating resolution or decision:Location in this document
  • resolution WHA73.2 (2020) on the global strategy to accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer as a public health problem and its associated goals and targets for the period 2020–2030
Annex 5
  • resolution WHA66.10 (2013) on follow-up to the Political Declaration of the High-level Meeting of the General Assembly on the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases
  • decision WHA72(11) on the follow-up to the political declaration of the third high-level meeting of the General Assembly on the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases
Annex 6

 EB150 will be invited:

  • to note the report and its annexes;
  • to adopt at EB150 and to recommend submission to WHA50 for endorsement:
    • Annex 1: Draft implementation road map 2023–2030 for the global action plan for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases 2013–2030
    • Annex 2: Draft recommendations to strengthen and monitor diabetes responses within national noncommunicable disease programmes, including potential targets
    • Annex 3: Draft global strategy on oral health
    • Annex 4: Draft recommendations on how to strengthen the design and implementation of policies, including those for resilient health systems and health services and infrastructure, to treat people living with noncommunicable diseases and to prevent and control their risk factors in humanitarian emergencies
    • Annex 7: Draft intersectoral global action plan on epilepsy and other neurological disorders in support of universal health coverage
    • Annex 8: Draft action plan (2022–2030) to effectively implement the global strategy to reduce the harmful use of alcohol as a public health priority
    • Annex 9: Draft recommendations for the prevention and management of obesity over the life course, including potential targets
    • Annex 10: Draft workplan for the global coordination mechanism on the prevention and control of NCDs.