As the dust settles on the civil society interactive hearing on noncommunicable diseases, the NCD Alliance highlights the following ten desired outcomes from the UN Summit on NCDs to be held in September: 1. Commit to a whole-of-government response through costed national plans for NCD prevention and treatment 2. Establish an NCDs Partnership, linked to WHO, to coordinate follow up action with member states, other UN and multilateral agencies, foundations, NGOs and private sector 3. Increase national and international resources for NCD prevention and treatment

On 16 June, attention of the NCD civil society movement was focused on the Informal interactive civil society hearingon the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases, which took place at the UN in New York. For a webcast of the 16 June hearing click here

Tobacco control is key to addressing NCDs Tobacco use is a major risk factor for non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including heart disease and cancer, as well as chronic respiratory disease. With the World Health Organization’s World Health Statistics 2011 showing that 4 in 10 men and 1 in 11 women use tobacco, tobacco control is a top priority for reversing the epidemic of NCDs, especially in low-income countries where both tobacco use and NCDs are increasing.