In preparation for the third High-level Meeting of the UN General Assembly on NCDs in 2018 (UN HLM3), the World Health Organization and the Government of Denmark convened a Global Dialogue to include WHO Member States, development agencies, UN system organisations, and non-State actors to explore new ways to address the critical gap in financing for national NCD responses. The Conference was supported by the WHO partners.

Who will stand up and be the ‘noncommunicable diseases marathon runner’, someone who can break free of the current sluggishness and inaction in dealing with these devastating diseases?

This long awaited report outlines the investment case for addressing NCDs, quantifying the health and economic benefits of implementing the WHO Best Buys. The bottom line: invest now, save later.

Participants at a session hosted by NCD Alliance at this week’s WHO dialogue on financing for NCDs discussed lessons learned about various examples of civil society advocacy for resource mobilisation in Denmark, Mali, Mexico.

Taxes on unhealthy products have the potential to produce major health gains among the poorest in society, who are disproportionately affected by NCDs, according to an analysis released by a taskforce of The Lancet today.

Two events in the next two weeks will turn the spotlight from the need for heightened political will in the NCDs response to the paucity of financing for NCDs ahead of the UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs in New York on 27 September.