The UK Working Group on Non-Communicable Diseases draws attention to and encourages action to address the growing burden of NCDs as an international development priority.
The UK Working Group on NCDs is a network of over 20 UK-based national and international NGOs and research organisations, acting as a focal point for information-sharing between its member organisations and advocating for NCDs to be included in a health-systems approach and within UHC.The UK Working Group on NCDs was founded in early 2018 to advocate for strong UK government representation at the United Nations High-level Meeting on NCDs, held in September that year. In 2019, our attention turned to the lead-up to the UN High-Level Meeting on Universal Health Coverage, advocating that NCD prevention and control be included as a core component. In 2020, the Working Group has pivoted its attention to the clear links between COVID-19 and chronic conditions, acting as a unique focal point for information-sharing between member organisations during the crisis. In 2021, we will focus on financing for NCDs - including co-hosting a webinar (January 2021) on #ResourcingForHealth - and on the UK's leading role in both the G7 and COP26.
The UK Working Group on NCDs focus on NCDs as an international development issue, rather than on NCDs within the UK itself. We advocate for the UK government comprehensively to address NCDs in low-and middle-income countries, including the need to embed NCDs as part of UHC and in the response to and recovery from COVID-19, despite the cut in the aid budget from 0.7% GNI to 0.5%.
