World Leaders Adopt Historic Global Declaration on Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health
SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being | SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities | SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare | NITI Aayog
At the Eightieth United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on December 16, 2025, world leaders adopted a landmark political declaration titled “Equity and integration: transforming lives and livelihoods through leadership and action on noncommunicable diseases and the promotion of mental health and well-being”. This is the first global declaration to address Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) and mental health together through a fully integrated approach.
Key Global “Fast-Track” Targets for 2030:
Tobacco Control: achieve 150 million fewer tobacco users worldwide.
Hypertension Management: ensure 150 million more people have their hypertension under control.
Mental Health Access: provide 150 million more people with access to quality mental health care.
Expanded Scope and New Commitments: For the first time, the declaration integrates lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic and addresses emerging global challenges, including:
Broader NCD Areas: Inclusion of oral health, lung health, childhood cancer, liver disease, and rare diseases.
Environmental Determinants: A sharper focus on air pollution (as a fifth major risk factor), clean cooking, lead exposure, and hazardous chemicals.
Digital Harms: Addressing risks from excessive screen time, social media exposure, and the spread of health-related mis- and disinformation.
Fiscal and Regulatory Measures: Sharper regulatory focus on e-cigarettes, unhealthy food marketing to children, and the elimination of trans fats.
Physical and mental conditions often co-occur and share major modifiable risk factors like tobacco use, unhealthy diets, and air pollution. An integrated approach to NCDs and Mental Health allows for more efficient, person-centered care at the primary health care level.
Policy Relevance
The declaration represents an alignment of global political will to protect both human health and economic productivity.
Strengthening National Systems: It sets measurable process targets, including at least 80% of countries having operational multisectoral national plans and robust surveillance systems for NCDs and mental health by 2030.
Financial Protection: Commits at least 60% of countries to implement financial protection measures that cover or limit the cost of essential services, preventing health-related poverty.
Health Equity: Emphasizes the needs of climate-vulnerable populations, migrants, refugees, and those in humanitarian settings, ensuring that no one is left behind in the global health response.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: How can India align its national NCD and mental health strategies with the 2030 fast-track targets while strengthening primary healthcare financing, prevention policies, and accountability mechanisms?
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