The following statement was prepared by the World Heart Federation in response to the UN Multistakeholder Hearing on NCD’s panel discussion on Reshaping and Strengthening Health Systems and All Forms of Financing to Meet the Needs of People Living With and at Risk of Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health Conditions.
Distinguished delegates, colleagues and partners,
The World Heart Federation urges Heads of State to place tackling cardiovascular disease at the centre of health system reform. CVD is not only the world’s leading cause of death but also the most responsive NCD to treatment and prevention – 80% of CVD deaths are preventable.
Health systems must be rebuilt on strong, population-centred primary health care. Cardiovascular health promotion must begin in the community, through early diagnosis, continuous treatment and follow-up. Yet today, fewer than 1 in 4 people with hypertension have their condition under control.
This is why our central ask is:
Reach 500 million more people with hypertension treatment by 2030, integrated into national Universal Health Care benefit package.
Our long-term ambition is to achieve a 50% global hypertension control by 2030, achieving which requires:
• Investment in resilient primary care systems
• Scalable task-sharing models
• Reliable digital tools and supply chains
• Public financing that shifts services closer to people
Action will not be possible without sustainable financing. Unfortunately currently, NCDs receive only 1–2% of global health funding, despite accounting for over 70% of global deaths. This is a stark mismatch. Governments must increase domestic funding for NCD prevention and care, and donors
must finally recognise NCDs- CVD in particular, as a development priority.
Recognising that the current SDG target is narrow and outdated, we call for a new global commitment:
• A 50% reduction in NCD-related deaths and disability by 2050s, inclusive of children, young adults, and older populations, to reflect the real burden of disease.
Strengthening health systems to ensure better care for NCDs and CVD is about protecting futures, saving millions of lives and ensuring that everyone, everywhere has access to quality care that is continuous, affordable and lifesaving.
We thank you for your time.
