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26.03.2025
Quick Buys for Long-Term Gains: WHO Identifies 25 Fast-Acting Policies to Reduce the Burden of Non-Communicable Diseases
The global burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) including cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory illnesses continues to rise, placing immense pressure on health systems, economies, and communities. In the WHO European Region, NCDs account for the vast majority of deaths and represent one of the biggest obstacles to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). For over a decade, the WHO has recommended a package of “best buys” evidence-based, cost-effective interventions to reduce exposure to the key NCD risk factors: tobacco and alcohol use, unhealthy diets, and physical inactivity. Yet, the implementation of these best buys has been slow and uneven across countries, and progress toward global targets remains off track. To bridge the gap between policy and action, a new publication from WHO/Europe introduces the concept of “Quick Buys” a refined set of interventions that deliver measurable population health impacts within five years, aligning with typical political and electoral cycles. “Policymakers often face short time horizons. This can be a barrier to adopting NCD policies that are perceived to take too long to show results. The Quick Buys address that by identifying interventions that are not only effective and affordable but also fast-acting.”— Dr. Kremlin Wickramasinghe, WHO Europe What Are Quick Buys? Selected based on strong evidence and their ability to show results within five years, these interventions focus on reducing exposure to risk factors and improving treatment outcomes. Here are some key examples: Tobacco & Alcohol Control Smoke-free laws and increased tobacco taxes have immediate effects on health outcomes. Alcohol tax increases and advertising bans reduce total consumption quickly. Healthier Diets Front-of-pack nutrition labels help consumers make better choices immediately. Mass media campaigns promoting healthy eating show effects within 3 years. Chronic Disease Treatment Hypertension treatment can lower cardiovascular risk within 10 days. Early diabetes control and statin use reduce mortality and complications rapidly. Cancer Prevention HPV vaccination for girls and early cervical cancer screening have immediate population-level impact. JA PreventNCD Supports Swift Action on NCDs As the 2030 deadline for the SDGs approaches, including Target 3.4 (reducing premature NCD mortality by one-third), countries must accelerate implementation. Yet policymakers are frequently constrained by political realities: budgets, lobbying pressures, and election cycles. The WHO Quick Buys aim to shift the conversation: away from long-term, abstract benefits toward concrete, near-term health gains. These interventions show that real progress is possible within a single electoral term, offering a politically feasible pathway to meet global health targets. “These Quick Buys show that investing in prevention doesn’t have to mean waiting decades to see results. With the right political will and intersectoral collaboration, countries can deliver real, measurable health benefits within five years—and JA PreventNCD is working to make that happen,”- Knut-Inge Klepp, Scientific Coordinator, JA PreventNCD. For countries participating in the JA PreventNCD, the Quick Buys offer a credible set of policy options to prioritize based on evidence and impact. They also provide a practical pathway to demonstrate early success showing measurable health improvements within a few years while continuing to build momentum for broader, long-term reforms. The JA PreventNCD was represented by Hanna Tolonen, leader of the Health in All Policies work in JA PreventNCD at the event. She highlighted the critical role of monitoring systems in ensuring the effectiveness and equity of public health interventions, allowing us to track progress and make informed decisions about where to focus future efforts. In public health, time matters The new Quick Buys framework doesn’t replace the need for long-term investment, but it shows that smart policy decisions can have swift, measurable, and lasting effects. For countries seeking to meet their commitments under the SDGs and reduce the burden of NCDs, these 25 interventions offer a clear place to start today. Access the full study in The Lancet Regional Health – Europe:Quick Buys for Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases, March 2025DOI: 10.1016/j.lanepe.2025.101281
https://www.preventncd.eu/newsroom/news-updates/quick-buys-for-long-term-gains-who-identifies-25-fast-acting-policies-to-reduce-the-burden-of-non-communicable-diseases/
17.03.2025
JA PreventNCD Welcomes the Launch of the MEP Interest Group
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) remain one of the greatest public health challenges in Europe. It causes 80% of deaths in the EU and take up to 10% of the GDP spent on healthcare, yet only 3% of health budgets go to prevention, even though prevention could reduce the burden by up to 70%. In February, the Members of the European Parliament (MEP) Interest Group on Health Inequalities, Prevention and Risk Factors was launched. This marks a significant step forward in addressing the NCD challenges and advancing evidence-based policy measures to tackle the disease burden. The event was well attended by MEPs, representatives from Member States, the World Health Organization (WHO), and civil society. JA PreventNCD was represented by leader of Work Package on Regulation and Taxation, Arnfinn Helleve from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH) and co-leader of Work Package on Sustainability, Gabrielle Schittecatte from Sciencano, Belgium. The interest group is led by a dedicated team of MEP Co-Chairs: • Vytenis Andriukaitis (S&D) • Manuela Ripa (EPP) • Vlad Voiculescu (Renew) • Ignazio Marino (Greens/EFA) • Aurelijus Veryga (ECR) • Ondřej Dostál (Non-attached) The JA PreventNCD project recognizes the critical role of political commitment in driving policy change. As Arnfinn Helleve, emphasizes: "Engaging with policy decision-makers at both the EU and Member State levels is essential for the success of the JA PreventNCD project. The newly established MEP interest group will be a key ally in our efforts. We hope to serve as a bridge between parliamentary groups and Member States to drive impactful policy change in NCD prevention." This initiative arrives at a crucial time when many public health policies face strong opposition from well-organized commercial interest groups. Industries with vested interests often lobby against regulatory measures designed to reduce alcohol and tobacco consumption, improve nutrition, and promote healthier lifestyles. Helleve underscores this concern: "There are many strong interest groups actively lobbying against policy initiatives aimed at preventing NCDs. Initiatives like the new MEP Interest Group are crucial to ensuring that public health policy discussions are protected from interference from commercial interests."
https://www.preventncd.eu/newsroom/news-updates/ja-preventncd-welcomes-the-launch-of-the-mep-interest-group/
07.03.2025
Advancing NCD Prevention: Key Takeaways from the Budapest ExCo Meeting
The first in-person meeting of the JA PreventNCD Executive Committee (ExCo) External Advisory Board (EEAB) meetings of 2025 were held on March 5-6, at the National Center for Public Health and Pharmacy (NNGYK) in Budapest, Hungary. These meetings are milestones for the project, bringing together work package (WP) leaders, the EEAB members and the project’s coordinators of cross-cutting themes, nutrition, physical activity, alcohol and tobacco to discuss progress, challenges and the way forward. Day 1: Strategic Discussions and Project Outcomes The meeting began with a warm welcome from Dr. Orsolya Surján, Deputy Chief Medical Officer at NNGYK, alongside Dr. Krisztina Biró Ministry of Interior, Department for Health Policy and JA PreventNCD coordinators Prof. Knut-Inge Klepp and Dr. Linda Granlund. The morning sessions focused on sustainability and best practices, with expert insights from the European Commission, WHO, and OECD on leveraging EU Best Practice Portals and WHO Best Buys for effective NCD prevention strategies. Presentations from Dr. Gauden Galea and Dr. Marion Devaux emphasized the importance of policy-driven, evidence-based approaches to public health challenges. Throughout the day, discussions covered key project outcomes and expected 2025 outputs, with leaders working on regulation and taxation, health in all policies, identifying individuals at risk, social inequalities, healthy living environments monitoring. Additionally, the participants discussed sustainability and long-term strategies for maintaining project impact beyond the Joint Action’s duration. Day 2: Evaluation, Communication, and Future Strategies Day two focused on project evaluation, covering key outcomes, methodologies, and plans for selecting implementation case studies. Later in the morning, updates on communication strategies, stakeholder mapping, and private sector involvement were shared, followed by a surprise segment and a group photo. The afternoon featured parallel meetings, with the ExCo addressing reporting, thematic coordination, and risk monitoring, while the EEAB held its own discussions. The meeting concluded with feedback from EEAB members, final reflections, and a discussion on the next steps for JA PreventNCD presented by the Chair of the Board Prof. Harry Rutter. Looking Ahead The Budapest ExCo and EEAB meetings reinforced the project’s commitment to advancing NCD prevention in Europe. With a strong foundation in place, discussions focused on how to move forward, improve strategies, and maximize impact. Work packages addressed previous feedback, fostering valuable reflections from the EEAB. Participants emphasized the importance of breaking silos, creating synergies, and aligning efforts across the initiative. As one of the largest EU4Health Joint Actions to date, JA PreventNCD aims to demonstrate meaningful impact by fostering collaboration, promoting high scientific quality, and ensuring coherence in objectives. The meeting served as a platform to evaluate progress, identify challenges, and explore solutions, laying the groundwork for the next phase of the project.
https://www.preventncd.eu/newsroom/news-updates/advancing-ncd-prevention-key-takeaways-from-the-budapest-exco-meeting/
04.02.2025
The right place at the right time – JACARDI is seizing the moment in EU Public Health Policy
The JACARDI consortium begins the new year with renewed energy and optimism, strengthened by significant public health announcements made in Brussels at the close of 2024. These developments validate JACARDI’s mission and reassure the experts involved that its Joint Action and pilot projects in 19 European countries are well-aligned with the priorities of the European Union. Notable milestones include the EU Commission's endorsement of the Cardiovascular Health Plan, the newly appointed Commissioner for Health and Animal Safety’s strong focus on cardiovascular prevention and treatment, the Aerosol-Free Initiative, the European Parliament’s decision to create a standing committee on public health, and Poland’s commitment to prioritizing public health during its Presidency. Together, these advancements demonstrate that momentum is building for better prevention and treatment of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
https://www.preventncd.eu/newsroom/partnerships-collaborations/the-right-place-at-the-right-time-jacardi-is-seizing-the-moment-in-eu-public-health-policy/
31.10.2024
Making WHO European Region the Healthiest Online Environment for children: Restrict harmful marketing
JA PreventNCD is co-organizing the scientific session “Making WHO European Region the healthiest online environment for children: restrict harmful marketing”, along with WHO Euro and EUPHA, at the European Public Health Conference in Lisbon, November 2024. Marketing exposure, particularly towards children, remains a pervasive challenge, posing a significant threat to children's health and well-being. Despite WHO recommendations, few countries in the WHO European Region have introduced mandatory policies restricting marketing of unhealthy products to children. Furthermore, traditional monitoring tools struggle to keep up with automated and personalized advertisements, making reliable monitoring mechanisms and innovative tools urgently needed. The WHO Regional Office for Europe developed the KidAd platform to address this gap for a tool allowing objective and standardized monitoring of children’s exposure to digital advertising. Regional Adviser for Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity, Special Initiative on NCDs and Innovation, WHO Regional Office For Europe, Kremlin Wickramasinghe (Denmark) and Amandine Garde (EUPHA-LAW), Professor of Law at the University of Liverpool, United Kingdom, will co-chair this 60-minute scientific session. Among the speakers, Olga Zhiteneva, from WHO Europe will present Innovative tools from WHO Europe to protect children from digital marketing of unhealthy products, in particular the KidAd platform, a pioneering tool developed to address these modern challenges by providing an objective product to monitor various marketing materials. The Lead of Task 5.6, Maria João Gregório from the Portuguese Directorate-General of Health, will give an overview on Collaborative efforts of the Joint Action PreventNCD and the WHO Europe to protect children from harmful marketing, focusing on the concrete collaborative actions to support the implementation of the marketing regulation: On JA work with the Member States and especially presidency countries, to allow for the discussions on the development of the EU regulation for reduction of the harmful marketing; On the EU stakeholders positions regarding marketing regulation; On the collaborative actions in scaling up the KidAd app to detect alcohol, tobacco and nicotine-containing products marketing. Finally, Iveta Nagyova, from EUPHA, will identify evidence-based behavioural strategies such as nudges, choice architecture, and social norms that can influence healthier choices, thereby reducing the impact of harmful marketing, with the presentation Leveraging Behavioural Insights to Create Healthier Online Environment for Children.
https://www.preventncd.eu/newsroom/news-updates/making-who-european-region-the-healthiest-online-environment-for-children-restrict-harmful-marketing/
24.10.2024
Advancing Health Equity Through Baby-Friendly Initiatives: Promoting Breastfeeding and Community Health Support Across Europe
The Work Package on Healthy Living Environment (WP6) under JA PreventNCD focuses on implementing integrated interventions to address the main causes of cancer and other NCDs. These interventions span different settings and life stages, with a strong emphasis on community action and co-creation with stakeholders. WP6 aims to build sustainable infrastructures at the local level, promoting health equity by empowering communities to support healthy living environments for all.
https://www.preventncd.eu/newsroom/news-updates/advancing-health-equity-through-baby-friendly-initiatives-promoting-breastfeeding-and-community-health-support-across-europe/
10.10.2024
World Mental Health Day
Mental health is a fundamental component of overall health and wellbeing. It affects how we think, feel and behave, influencing our daily lives, relationships and our ability to cope with stress and face challenges. October 10th is World Mental Health Day, established in 1992 by the World Federation for Mental Health to raise global awareness about critical mental health agendas. This year’s official theme concerns Mental Health at Work: It’s time to prioritize mental health in the workplace. Safe and supportive work environments can play a crucial role in safeguarding mental health. However, negative factors like stigma, discrimination, harassment and poor working conditions pose significant threats, impacting participation and productivity at work, mental wellbeing and overall quality of life. As the EU employment rate is rising and is now over 75%, it is imperative to take action to minimize these risks, foster mental health and create a healthy work environment. A part of the work on Health in all Policies in JA PreventNCD focuses on Mental Health in All Policies (MHiAP), an approach to promoting population mental health and wellbeing by initiating and facilitating action within different non-health public policy areas. The aim is to present recommendations for Member States regarding MHiAP as a useful tool to promote mental health and wellbeing at different levels of governance. A survey has been sent out to map the inclusion of mental health and wellbeing in health and non-health policies at national and regional level. Data collection is underway with emphasis on identifying good practices of mental health promotion at policy level across sectors in participating countries. Examples of mental health promoting policies in the Employment sector are policies affecting flexible working hours, a work-life balance, parental leave and vacation time. Another example could be the implementation of wellness programmes that include stress management workshops, physical activities and mental health days. But policies across other sectors affect people in the workplace as well. Policies ensuring accessible and affordable public transportation, reducing commute stress. Policies ensuring access to quality nutrition, policies improving insurance coverage for mental health services, policies supporting mental health professionals to maintain their own mental health and so on. Mental health stigma can be a significant barrier to creating a supportive work environment. On World Mental Health Day, DG SANTE, the WHO and Mental Health Europe have jointly organised a Webinar on stigma related to mental health where the European Commission will present the EU support package on stigma next to the WHO toolkit on stigma. This work will complement and support the JA PreventNCD activities on mental health stigma which will be aimed at combatting stigma at structural level. JA PreventNCD is also collaborating with and following the work of the Joint Action Mental Health Together (JA MENTOR) which has just started up, to ensure synergies and make sure the work is complementary. Author: Sólrún Ósk Lárusdóttir, Directorate of Health, Iceland. Sólrún leads task 9.2: Developing effective ways to implement Mental Health in All Policies (MiAP) as part of JA PreventNDC.
https://www.preventncd.eu/newsroom/blog/world-mental-health-day/