NCDs cost the global economy $2 trillion every year, yet investments remain insufficient. NCDA is driving action to close this gap by promoting sustainable investments and advocating for smarter national and global financing solutions.
The 'Why'
Beyond the immense human toll, NCDs impose catastrophic healthcare costs on individuals, deepen poverty, and burden health systems.
Fragmented financing and inadequate public spending leave millions without access to affordable care. addressing this crisis requires greater investment, better data, and more efficient use of resources at all levels.
Advocacy and Accountability
On 20-21 June 2024, NCDA mobilised the NCD community around the International Dialogue on Sustainable Financing for NCDs and Mental Health, co-hosted by WHO and the World Bank. This much-anticipated meeting focused on finding real solutions to close the NCD financing gap and ensure sustainable funding for health systems worldwide.
How NCDA Made an Impact:
The Dialogue was a major step forward in making NCD financing a global priority. NCDA will keep the momentum going, pushing for real commitments and people-centred solutions ahead of the 2025 High-Level Meeting on NCDs.
Government Action
Since 2012, taxes on tobacco and alcohol have generated billions of dollars in public revenue, significantly boosting health funding and supporting Universal Health Coverage (UHC). Watch the video to learn more.
The "Everybody's Business" series highlights bold, multisectoral approaches to closing the NCD funding gap, showcasing initiatives like the Philippines' national NCD investment, which demonstrates the economic and health benefits of strengthening policies, expanding services, and ensuring sustainable financing.
Government Action
Norway is the first OECD country to translate the inclusion of NCDs within the SDGs into their overseas development policy, and back it up with much-needed resources.
With a budget of US$133 million (1.2 billion NOK) from 2020 to 2024, Norway aims to combat NCDs with actions that span various sectors and SDGs, including education, sustainable food systems, climate and environment, renewable energy, humanitarian work, people with disabilities, digitalisation and good governance.
The Global Week for Action on NCDs
The Global Week for Action on NCDs 2025, under the theme “Time to Lead”, aims to rally leaders across sectors to take bold action on NCDs in the lead-up to the UN High-Level Meeting (HLM) on NCDs.
The campaign’s “Call to Lead” open letter urges leaders to:
Financing is central to the campaign’s success, as adequate funding is vital to reducing the NCD burden and driving long-term health and economic benefits.
NCD Financing Highlights
A powerful fiscal policy that governments have at their fingertips is raising taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages, tobacco and alcohol (referred to as STAX). The sheer number of countries that have implemented taxes is testament to their effectiveness, increasingly making taxes the norm rather than the exception. On the flip side, removing subsidies from health-harming industries like fossil fuels and tobacco can free up significant public revenue that can be allocated to health and UHC.
NCDA Resource
Getting Fiscal Policies Right: Lessons and recommendations across NCD risk factors
NCDA Resource
A civil society guide to advance NCD prevention policies: Unpacking WHO’s Best Buys and other recommended interventions.
NCDA Resource
Better data for better NCD financing: Building momentum for change through the G20
NCDA Resource
Financing Solutions for NCDs and Mental Health: Advocacy priorities for the 2nd Global Financing Dialogue on NCDs
Impact Goal: FINANCING
At NCDA, we champion the need for multiple financing sources and solutions to tackle NCDs, including domestic financing, development financing for LMICs, innovative financing, and private sector contributions. By promoting a blended approach to NCD financing, we help ensure sustainable and diverse funding streams that reflect varying disease burdens, fiscal capacity, and donor landscapes.
Impact Goal: FINANCING
NCDA has always taken a two-pronged approach to our work, building the foundations of the NCD response whilst also interconnecting with other relevant global health and development priorities, recognising the many intersections with NCDs.
To promote integrated financing, NCDA works with partners such as UHC2030, Action for Global Health, and the Global Climate and Health Alliance to drive sustainable, cross-cutting solutions.
In a significant advocacy effort, 60 organisations signed NCDA’s open letter to The Global Fund, successfully calling for the inclusion of NCDs and mental health in its latest funding cycle. NCDA followed up by organising webinars to support national alliances in navigating funding opportunities and engaging in country-level advocacy, helping to mobilise resources for integrated, people-centred NCD services.
"Insulin is the sixth most expensive liquid in the world, yet [...] it's not covered under medical insurance in India. My cost of living dramatically increased because I must pay 4,000 rupees (US$53) every month for insulin, which I buy from a private pharmacy. Besides insulin, other supplies including needles, injector pens and continuous glucose monitoring devices cost me 6000 rupees (US$80) per month."
