The Pulse of Tomorrow: Shifting the Paradigm for NCDs in Global Health Architecture

The ongoing global health financing crisis and shifting geopolitics around multilateralism have created a window of opportunity to reimagine global health. In this critical moment, the NCD community has to be at the table and actively engage with processes to ensure that noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), including mental health and neurological conditions, are more effectively positioned in the future international health system.

Despite being the leading cause of disability worldwide, NCDs remain underprioritised. Recognising this fundamental mismatch between global disease burden and resource allocation, health leaders from around the world, together with the International Politics and Diplomacy for Health Partnership, have called for reprioritisation of functions in the international health system alongside a broader institutional reform. Without strong representation in ongoing reforms, there is a risk that NCDs will continue to be overlooked—hindering progress toward Universal Health Coverage.

However, existing institutions face a key challenge in making 'trade-offs' between proven vertical approaches that have been effective in advancing progress on communicable diseases, maternal, and child health and pivoting towards integrated health systems and country-led approaches outlined in the Lusaka Agenda. The “Reflections” report produced for the European Union and Like-Minded Donors underscores that external impetus and political pressure will be essential to drive this transformation, as meaningful governance reform is unlikely to originate from within.

This webinar will convene public health thought leaders, including member states, UN agencies, civil society, private sector, academia, foundations, and people living with NCDs, through a discussion amongst the International Politics and Diplomacy for Health Executive Programme fellows and faculty. The discussions will focus on the changes that are needed in the global health architecture, with a special view toward the WHO joint process, to pivot towards integrated global frameworks, person-centred health systems, and unified plans and budgets to ensure sustainability and health for all.

Key objectives

• Catalyse discussion on NCDs within the global health reform agenda ahead of WHA 79 (18-23 May, Geneva) review of the WHO proposal for a joint planning process.
• Share the NCD community’s recommendations with a broader public health audience.
• Develop constructive proposals to address the political challenges within and outside of the health sector that NCDs need to overcome in global health reform.

The webinar will take place on 12 May at 14:00 CET.

More speakers to be announced soon.