Addressing non-communicable diseases: major challenges to sustainable development in the 21st century

The Minster based his introduction on the following points
(check against delivery) 

• Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) increasingly a global challenge. Welcome the WHO’s leadership in organising these consultations in advance of next year’s High Level Meeting in the UN.
• Suggest for the meeting that we 1) have an update from the WHO on their work in the area of NCDs, globally and regionally, including what WHO expects to achieve with the regional consultation in Oslo. 2) Share Norwegian experiences with addressing NCDs, at national and international level.
• NCDs account for almost 90% of the disease burden in the European region and for about 60% of all deaths worldwide. (An ageing population, tobacco consumption, obesity, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and alcohol are key contributing factors. (Comment further on: EU/Norway alcohol/TV-commercials. NCDs: Strong commercial interests involved. NCDs: complex issues, involving many other sectors than just the health sector). According to WHO, mortality from NCDs is set to increase over the next 10 years, most rapidly in low and middle-income countries. Poor countries are faced with a double burden of disease.
• While increased focus on NCDs is needed, it is important not to lose sight of the MDGs, in particular those that concern women’s and children’s health, which are still far from being reached. They require sustained attention and commitment. It is important to note that communicable diseases such as HIV, TB and malaria, and conditions that are behind maternal and child mortality, still constitute a greater share of the burden of disease for the poorest segments of the populations.
• European countries, including Norway, have useful experiences to share in terms of addressing NCDs. The key to success lies beyond the health sector. We need cross sectoral action, involving ministries of planning, finance, industry, trade, education and agriculture.
• There are lessons to be drawn from our experience with the MDG-related global health initiatives:

The importance of designing international initiatives so that they are driven by countries themselves. National governments must take the lead.

The importance of strengthening national health systems to address infectious and non-communicable diseases holistically.

Global health initiatives have to a large extent focused on service delivery and individual interventions, much less on prevention. By prioritising health promotion and cross-sectoral action, NCDs can play a significant added value by strengthening public health functions and the stewardship role of health ministries.

Governments must from the start ensure inclusive partnerships with civil society and the private sector. This has been key to success in the AIDS response and also our experience in Norway when it comes to NCDs. This is also why Norwegian NGOs working on NCDs each year receive more than USD 8 million in financial support from the Norwegian government to work internationally and in developing countries. 

It is true than ever before that money matters but money alone is not sufficient. Many countries are in a constrained economic situation with public budgets including for ODA under severe pressure.  The emerging NCD movement is best placed to produce integrated plans with realistic resource needs that emphasise value for money and focus on actions that are needed in this phase – that is up to 2015 – to expand the evidence base needed for decision-makers, support national leadership and cross-sectoral capacity, and document what works in different contexts.

• We fully support the WHO Global Strategy for the prevention and control of NCDs. It provides an excellent framework for the work ahead. We encourage WHO to continue providing evidence and data in preparation for the High Level Meeting