- JACARDI, JA PreventNCD, WHO Europe, OECD and the European Commission’s DG SANTE have published a joint Comment in The Lancet Regional Health, based on the findings of the newly published report ‘Avoidable mortality, risk factors and policies for tackling NCDs: leveraging data for impact’, by WHO Europe.
- The Comment underscores the critical role of cross-national collaboration in translating WHO findings into actionable policies, with a focus on equity, data-driven solutions, and integrated care pathways.
- These organizations call for an accelerated, harmonised and equity-driven European agenda on non-communicable diseases.
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) remain the leading cause of death and disability in Europe, recent trends reveal both progress and setbacks. While tobacco use, hypertension prevalence, and alcohol consumption have declined since 2010, obesity and diabetes rates continue to rise alarmingly, and physical inactivity shows no signs of improvement. This mixed picture is compounded by a slowdown in the implementation of vital public health policies since the COVID-19 pandemic.
These findings are discussed in a Comment published in The Lancet Regional Health and developed through a collaborative effort bringing together JACARDI, JA PreventNCD, WHO Europe, OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development), and the European Commission’s DG SANTE. The publication summarises the findings of the report Avoidable mortality, risk factors and policies for tackling noncommunicable diseases – leveraging data for impact: monitoring commitments in the WHO European Region ahead of the Fourth United Nations High-Level Meeting, by WHO Europe, reinforcing the urgency of renewed action. It emphasises the need for comprehensive solutions that prioritise strengthening health systems, accelerating the implementation of proven interventions, effective policies, and integrating equity-driven approaches.
The Comment presents key insights taken from the WHO Europe Report on the current state of NCD prevention and management in Europe. It highlights key challenges, such as the decline in the number of countries that have fully implemented NCD surveys, which fell from 28% in 2021 to 19% in 2023, and the reduction in the number of countries with operational multisectoral NCD strategies, which decreased from 60% to 55% during this period.
Despite these challenges, the authors note that 85% of European countries have adopted management guidelines for the four major NCDs: cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases; demonstrating significant foundational progress.
“These figures paint a complex picture. Despite decades of progress in reducing premature mortality from the four major NCDs prioritised by global agenda, currently the region is off track to meet its 2025 targets. Moreover, the rise in obesity and diabetes and the slowdown in policy implementation highlight the urgent need to reinvigorate our efforts”, comments first author Dr Benedetta Armocida, from the Department of Cardiovascular, Endocrine-metabolic Diseases and Aging at Istituto Superiore di Sanità-ISS, Rome (Italy) and Coordinator of JACARDI.
The Scientific Coordinator of JA PreventNCD, Prof Knut-Inge Klepp, concurs and is particularly concerned regarding the slowdown in the implementation of population level policy interventions: “We know how critical such policies are if we are to succeed in having a significant and lasting impact across population groups in Europe. Inequalities in NCD-related health remain a key challenge across and within European countries”.
Driving change
The European Union’s flagship initiatives under the EU4Health Programme are pivotal in addressing these challenges. JACARDI and JA PreventNCD are at the forefront of strengthening cross-national collaboration and implementing integrated strategies for NCD prevention and management.
JA PreventNCD targets primary prevention by tackling root causes such as unhealthy diets, tobacco and alcohol use, and lack of physical activity. JACARDI, meanwhile, focuses on secondary and tertiary prevention, aiming to enhance outcomes for cardiovascular diseases and diabetes through evidence-based interventions and integrated care pathways. Together, these initiatives exemplify the EU’s commitment to tackling NCDs across the care continuum, supported by a combined budget of €160 million and participation from 27 European countries.
The WHO NCD Global Monitoring Framework, which includes nine global voluntary targets, notably the headline goal of a 25% reduction in premature mortality from NCDs by 2025, is about to expire. That is why the authors provide a clear roadmap for advancing the fight against NCDs, ensuring systematic policy implementation and strengthening data infrastructures to translate commitments into measurable health outcomes.
“There are no more excuses. We have the knowledge and the tools. What remains is the will to implement them swiftly and hold ourselves accountable for delivering real results. This is not just a matter of public health; this is a matter of justice, security, and competitiveness, and a shared future”, says Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, World Health Organization Regional Director for Europe.
Armocida and Klepp underscore the power of collaboration in achieving meaningful change: “We truly believe this joint effort reflects the strength and unity across Europe, bringing together a diverse group of organisations, initiatives, and stakeholders committed to reducing the burden of NCDs. The collaborative authorship of this Comment itself serves as an example of the collective commitment and shared vision needed to address one of the region’s most pressing public health challenges.”
The Comment calls for an accelerated, harmonised, and equity-driven European agenda on NCDs, particularly in the lead-up to the 2025 UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs.
The JA PreventNCD and JACARDI Joint Actions encourage policymakers, researchers, and public health advocates to explore this vital publication and join in building a healthier, more equitable future for Europe.
JACARDI (Grant Agreement 101126953) and JA PreventNCD (Grant Agreement 101128023) projects have received funding from the EU4Health Programme 2021-2027.