The World Health Organization (WHO) is prioritising the meaningful involvement of people living with NCDs, as countries move towards stronger and more resilient health systems. To this aim, they have released a new report titled 'Nothing for Us, Without Us', based on the findings of a consultative process that has helped to identify work streams, activities, opportunities to ensure engagement of for people living with NCDs in NCD governance and decision making processes.

Nothing for Us, Without Us'

It is important to recognise that without the expertise and experiences of people living with noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), it can be challenging to call for action and design and deliver inclusive people-centred healthcare. People living with NCDs should be at the center of policy, practice and program creation in all aspects of the NCD response. The COVID-19 pandemic coupled with the NCD epidemic represents a global public health challenge. People living with NCDs face the highest risk of severe COVID-19 complications and death. As COVID-19 continues, the interplay with the NCD epidemic is evident. 

Consultation and next steps

• Theme 1: Meaningful engagement activates agents of change and builds on what is meant by meaningful engagement of people living with NCDs;
• Theme 2: From talking the talk to walking the walk shows how the process should be conducted;
• Theme 3: Actions we want to see indicates the methods the participants consider should be used to support active, participatory engagement of people living with NCDs;