On 25 September 2025, Heads of State and Government will gather in New York for the 4th United Nations High-Level Meeting (UNHLM) on the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs), with an expanded focus on mental health and well-being. This is the perfect opportunity to secure renewed, concrete political commitments to prevent and manage NCDs, including cardiovascular disease, the world’s leading cause of death.
Despite being responsible for nearly half of all NCD deaths, cardiovascular disease continues to receive inadequate attention and investment. Only 16 of 193 WHO Member States have a national cardiovascular health plan and less than 2% of global health funding targets NCDs.
WHF is actively engaging in the process to ensure CVD is prioritized and that governments commit to bold, evidence-based action. We are working with governments, UN agencies, civil society and the scientific community to bring the lived realities of cardiovascular disease to the table and to hold leaders accountable.
1) Expand hypertension treatment to 500 million more people by 2030, with the goal of achieving 50% hypertension control by 2030
- Scale up primary health care-based hypertension diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up.
- Prioritize vulnerable populations, especially in low- and middle-income countries.
2) Implement fiscal policies, imposing at least 50% taxation on tobacco, alcohol, and sugar-sweetened beverages
- Use taxation to reduce consumption of health-harming products.
- Use taxation to generate revenue for health systems.
3) Adopt and implement the WHO 2021 Global Air Quality Guidelines to reduce air pollution levels and prevent over 4.5 million CVD deaths
- Set clear national targets for improving air quality, while investing in air quality monitoring systems.
- Integrate these guidelines into national policies to prevent ischemic heart disease, stroke and other NCDs.
4) Address systemic health inequities and establish sustainable financing structures for cardiovascular disease management
- Expand access to CVD and NCD prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and care within Universal Health Coverage (UHC) frameworks.
- Close financing gaps by increasing domestic health budgets and scaling up development assistance for NCDs, with specific prioritization of LMICs.
5) Commit to a 50% reduction in NCD-related deaths and disability across all age groups by 2050
- Broaden the existing SDG 3.4 target to cover children, adolescents, and older adults, beyond the 30–70 age range.
- Include morbidity in national and global targets and monitoring frameworks.
