Globally, noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) including heart disease, cancer, diabetes and chronic lung disease, account for six times as many deaths as HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis combined. Over the next 15 years, the World Economic Forum projects an economic loss of $47 trillion from NCDs.
Despite this burden, only 3% of development assistance for health is targeted toward NCDs.
To address this gap, the American Heart Association, the LIVESTRONG Foundation and the NCD Roundtable published the brief, “Prevention & Control of Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDS)” to provide findings and recommendations for how the US Government can better address the growing threat of NCDs. Recommendations include harmonizing NCD definitions through an inter-agency process, leveraging the expertise of diverse agencies alongside private investments, and continual funding of multilateral institutions that combat NCDs. Overall, a coherent and overarching strategy can help leverage US agencies’ unique expertise and current investments to promote a world of improved health and well-being. Together we can combat the growing threat of NCDs through an overarching and unified strategy.