Assessing national capacity for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases: report of the 2015 global survey
Countries start to act on noncommunicable diseases but need to speed up efforts to meet global commitments. A new WHO report highlights the need to intensify national action to meet the global targets governments have agreed to protect people from heart disease, cancers, diabetes, and lung diseases. Globally, these 4 noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) represent the largest cause of death in people aged under 70 years, posing a major threat to sustainable development. The global survey, “Assessing national capacity for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases”, shows that some countries are making remarkable progress. A number of countries have put in place measures to protect people from exposure to tobacco use, harmful use of alcohol, unhealthy diet and physical inactivity. Some have created new financing opportunities to build strong public health systems by taxing tobacco products.