Draft implementation road map 2023–2030 for the global action plan for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases 2013–2030

75th
World Health Assembly – 2022
Constituency statement on agenda item 14.1: Follow-up to the political declaration of the third
high-level meeting of the General Assembly on the prevention and control of non-communicable
diseases (a) Draft implementation road map 2023–2030 for the global action plan for the
prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases 2023–2030
Constituency formed by:
International Council of Nurses
International Pharmaceutical Federation
International Pharmaceutical Students’ Federation
World Medical Association
World Confederation for Physical Therapy
FDI World Dental Federation
International Federation of Biomedical Laboratory Science
International Federation of Surgical Colleges
International League of Dermatological Societies
Honourable Chair, Distinguished Delegates,
I represent a constituency of 9 organisations of health professionals and students, representing
millions of pharmacists, nurses, physicians, physiotherapists among others.
We support the NCD implementation roadmap, which aligns tools to PHC and UHC frameworks, and
we urge Member States and WHO to work closely with health professionals to ensure its successful
implementation.
NCDs share social determinants and multiple environmental, educational and lifestyle risk factors
that are largely preventable. They are responsible for the majority of the world’s deaths and disease
burden, with tremendous implications for individuals and communities, health system expenditure,
and sustainability.
We are concerned by the inadequate access to quality NCD care and its insufficient inclusion in
essential health benefit packages. 122 countries reported a disruption of NCD care due to the
COVID-19 pandemic in a survey to WHO. If the burden of NCDs is to be effectively addressed, it is
imperative to adopt a collaborative, interprofessional, community-based and person-centred
approach.
UHC based on a robust PHC system should provide effective NCD care with a focus on integrated and
longitudinal care. This includes prevention, risk-factor identification and mitigation, early screening
and diagnosis, and care of people living with NCDs, including disease state management, optimal
adherence to treatments and rehabilitation. This can only be achieved through the integrated and
complementary roles of a multi-disciplinary health care team consisting of general practitioners and
specialist medical doctors, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, physiotherapists and other health and
social workers. Building an NCD-ready workforce will require the protection, resourcing, training,
career development and fair remuneration of healthcare professionals.
Increased public investment in prevention strategies is critical, including public health campaigns
and programmes delivered and supported by the full range of health professionals for adult
vaccination, tobacco cessation, the adoption of healthier dietary behaviours and physical exercise.
Finally, we strongly agree with Member States that mental health should be discussed as a separate
issue considering the global emergency in mental health.