On 25 September 2025, Heads of States and Government will meet at the UN General Assembly to set a new vision for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and the promotion of mental health and wellbeing towards 2030 and beyond through a new, ambitious and achievable Political Declaration.

Zero Draft Political Declaration

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First page of the zero draft depicting a heading and numbered paragraphs

Equity and integration: transforming lives and livelihoods though leadership and action on noncommunicable diseases and the promotion of mental health...

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Shaping a transformative Political Declaration

The Fourth UN High-level Meeting on NCDs marks a unique, decennial opportunity to adopt a new, ambitious and achievable political declaration on NCDs and mental health conditions towards 2030 and beyond. Building on evidence and grounded in human rights, the declaration will form the core framework to accelerate global NCD prevention and control from 2025.

Halfway to 2030, progress towards achieving SDG target 3.4 and reducing premature mortality from NCDs by one third through prevention and treatment and the promotion of mental health and well-being are off track. Underinvestment in health services has created a significant equity gap in care and support for people affected by NCDs and mental health conditions. Unless urgent action is taken, the health of individuals, households and societies will be significantly affected in the long term.

The global NCD burden and the urgency of promoting mental health and well-being are no longer just a health system problem. HLM4 calls upon Member States and global partners to renew and reinforce their committed to addressing NCDs and mental health challenges – through stronger whole-of-government and whole-of society collaboration, and by reshaping health systems, supporting sustainable financing mechanisms, and tackling the underlying social, economic, commercial and environmental drivers of risk and inequities.

Ahead of HLM4, WHO urges countries, nongovernmental organizations, UN agencies, citizens and people living with a health condition to join forces, take action and support local and global efforts to accelerate an inclusive, equitable and quality NCD and mental health response.

WHO / Antoine Tardy
Roundtable on economics and financing of health and well-being for all at the Seventy-seventh World Health Assembly on 29 May 2024 in Geneva, Switzerland.

Global health and equity at stake

Every 2 seconds, someone under the age of 70 dies from an NCD.

Noncommunicable diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, cancers, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases, and mental health conditions are the leading cause of death, morbidity and disability globally. In 2021 more than 43 million people globally died from NCDs, accounting for 75% of non-pandemic-related deaths. Seven of the top 10 leading causes of death were linked to NCDs. A staggering 86% of premature NCD deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries where the social, economic, and physical environment provides less protection from the risks and consequences of NCDs and mental health disorders.

Most of these deaths could be prevented: through timely, comprehensive and integrated preventive, diagnostic, curative and palliative health care services that are accessible and context-appropriate, and through coherent policy, legislative and regulatory measures.

Yet, the COVID-19 pandemic, conflict, financial instability, and the ravaging effects of global conflict and climate change have further knocked the NCD and mental health agenda off course and continue to hinder an effective response.

Without urgent, concerted action, the long-term trajectory of these diseases and conditions will have profound socioeconomic impacts for individuals, communities and societies. The burden of NCDs and mental health conditions hinders economic growth by weakening human capital and reducing workforce participation. It also diverts limited public and private resources toward treating conditions that could have been prevented or addressed with early detection and management, contributing to inefficiencies, inequities and impoverishment.

WHO / Panos / Andrew Esiebo
Diabetes in Nigeria, 2016.

Process and documentation

The foundation for the Fourth High-level Meeting is an assessment of the progress achieved in the implementation of the commitments from the 2011, 2014 and 2018 High-level Meetings. In line with the request made in the 2018 Political Declaration, the WHO Director-General, in consultation with Member States, prepared such a report on behalf of the United Nations Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly. The Report sets out how, more than halfway to 2030, the world is not on track to meet target 3.4 of the SDGs and provides recommendations for consideration by Member States.

Next steps in the process for the Fourth High-level Meeting in 2025

25 September 2025—The Fourth High-level Meeting will convene under the auspices of the President of the United Nations General Assembly to adopt the outcome document. The High-level Meeting will also provide an opportunity for Member States to deliver statements, and for Member States, NGOs and private sector entities to engage in roundtable discussions.
Ongoing until September 2025—The Member State co-facilitators will preside over the negotiations among Permanent Missions in New York on the 2025 outcome document with a zero draft document to be released.
May 2025—World Health Assembly official side event on the Fourth High-level Meeting (to be confirmed).
Open until 20 May 2025—Accreditation of civil society organizations for the Fourth High-level Meeting.

Milestones informing the Fourth High-level Meeting

2025

2 May 2025— Interactive multistakholder hearing convened by the President of the General Assembly at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, USA: watch Parts 1 and Parts 2.
Thematic dialogue for New York mission representatives on environmental risk factors for NCDs and Mental Health, 30 April, New York—see the concept note.
Second general meeting of the Global Coordination Mechanism on NCDs (GCM), 23–25 April.
Nutrition for Growth (N4G) summit, 27–28 March, Paris, and WHO's commitments announced at the summit.
Second Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health, 25–27 March, Cartagena, and commitments for addressing air pollution as a public health issue.
Thematic dialogue for New York mission representatives on social, economic, and commercial determinants and fiscal measures, 25 March, New York—see the concept note.
Region of the Americas Meeting on Noncommunicable Disease Prevention and Control, Brasilia, 24–26 March 2025.
General Assembly Resolution (Adopted 6 March 2025) on the scope, modalities, format and organization of the 4th High-Level meeting.
Thematic dialogue for New York mission representatives on co-morbidities and the integrated Primary Health Care approach, 19 February, New York—see the concept note.
Thematic dialogue for New York mission representatives on prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of NCDs and promotion of Mental Health, 21 January, New York—see the concept note.

2024

His Excellency Mr. Olivier Maes, Permanent Representative of Luxembourg, and Her Excellency Ms. Rhonda King, Permanent Representative of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, appointed as co-facilitators for the Fourth High-level Meeting (December).
Thematic dialogue for New York mission representatives on investing in NCDs and mental health for UHC, 10 December, New York—see the concept note.
WHO global oral health meeting, 26–29 November.
2nd WHO symposium on meaningful engagement, 15 November.
European Regional Multi-stakeholder consultation on the Fourth United Nations High Level Meeting, 22 October.
Third annual gathering of the Global Group of Heads of State and Government for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases, 24 September, New York.
WHO South-East Asia Regional Regional multi-stakeholder consultation in preparation for the Fourth UN High-level Meeting, 17-18 July.
WHO African Regional multi-stakeholder consultation in preparation for the Fourth UN High-level Meeting, 11 July,
International dialogue on sustainable financing for NCDs and mental health, Washington D.C., 20–21 June, and the meeting report.
4th International Conference on Small Island Developing States, 27-30 May, Antigua and Barbuda.
1st WHO symposium on meaningful engagement, May 15.
2nd Multistakeholder forum for second global dialogue on sustainable financing for NCDs and mental health, 6 May
Web-based consultations (1 May to 17 June) on key priorities before the next High-level meeting on NCDs and in preparation for the International dialogue on sustainable financing for NCDs and mental health.
Multistakeholder forum for second global dialogue on sustainable financing for NCDs and mental health, 15 March.
High-level technical meeting on NCDs in emergencies, Copenhagen, 27–29 February.
Third session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products (MOP3), 12–15 February 2024, Panama.
10th session of the Conference of the Parties to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (COP10), 5–10 February 2024, Panama.

2023

Second annual gathering of the Global Group of Heads of State and Government for the prevention and control of NCDs, 21 September 2023.
Second High-level Meeting of the United Nations General Assembly on universal health coverage, 21 September 2023.
WHO Global Ministerial Conference on the Prevention and Control of NCDs in Small Island Developing States (SIDS), 14–16 June, Barbados, and the Bridgetown Declaration on NCDs and Mental Health in SIDS.
WHO SIDS High-level technical meeting on NCDs and mental health, 17–18 January, Barbados.

2022

WHO Global and Regional technical meeting on addressing NCDs in emergencies, 13–15 December.
First gathering of Global Group of Heads of State and Government for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases, September, New York.
International Strategic Dialogue on NCDs and the SDGs, 12 April, Accra.

2021

10th international conference of health promotion, 13–15 December, and the Geneva Charter for Well-being.
Nutrition for Growth (N4G) summit, 7-8 December, Tokyo, and WHO's commitments announced at the summit.
Ninth session of the Conference of the Parties to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (COP9), 8–13 November.
Second session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products (MOP2), 15–18 November.
United Nations Climate Conference of the Parties (COP26), 31 October – 12 November.
WHO SIDS Summit for Health: For a healthy and resilient future in Small Island Developing States, 28–29 June.
Global Diabetes Summit,14 April, Toronto, and launch of the Global Diabetes Compact.

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Key resolutions, decisions and commitments on NCDs

The preparatory process builds on key World Health Assembly resolutions, decisions and commitments made by Member States to advance the NCD agenda, including:

2023 Bridgetown Declaration on NCDs and mental health adopted at the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Ministerial Conference on NCDs and mental health held on 14–16 June 2023.
Resolution WHA76(9) (2023) Endorsement of the draft updated menu of policy options and cost-effective interventions for the prevention and control of NCDs.
Decision WHA75(11) (2022) Adoption of the Global strategy and action plan on oral health 2023–2030.
Decision WHA75(11) (2022) Adoption of the Global alcohol action plan 2022-2030.
Decision WHA75(11) (2022) Adoption of recommendations for the prevention and management of obesity over the life course and endorsement of the WHO Acceleration Plan to Stop Obesity.
Decision WHA75(11) (2022) Adoption of the intersectoral global action plan on epilepsy and other neurological disorders 2022–2031.
Decision WHA75(11) (2022) Adoption of the recommendations on strengthening policies for NCDs in humanitarian emergencies.
Decision WHA75(11) (2022) Adoption of the Implementation roadmap 2023–2030 (2022) for the global action plan for the prevention and control of NCDs 2013–2030 (NCD-GAP).
Resolution WHA74.5 (2021) Oral health.
Resolution WHA74.4 (2021) Reducing the burden of NCDs through strengthening prevention and control of diabetes.
Resolution WHA72.11 (2019) Extension of the WHO Global NCD action plan period to 2030.
Resolution WHA71.9 (2018) Infant and young child feeding.
Resolution WHA71.6 (2018) Endorsement of the WHO global action plan on physical activity 2018–2030.
Decision WHA70 (19) (2017) Welcoming the Report of the Commission on Ending Childhood Obesity: implementation plan.
Decision WHA70 (17) (2017) Endorsing the Global action plan on the public health response to dementia.
Resolution WHA70.12 (2017) Cancer prevention and control in the context of an integrated approach.
Resolution WHA68.19 (2015) Endorsing the Outcome of the Second International Conference on Nutrition.
Resolution WHA66.10 (2013) Endorsement of the WHO Global NCD action plan 2013–2020 and adoption of the NCD global monitoring framework.
Resolution WHA66.8 (2013) Adopting the Comprehensive mental health action plan 2013–2020.
Resolution WHA65.6 (2012) Endorsing the Comprehensive implementation plan on maternal, infant and young child nutrition.
Resolution WHA63.13 (2010) Endorsing the Global strategy to reduce the harmful use of alcohol.
Resolution WHA57.17 (2004) Endorsing the Global strategy on diet, physical activity and health.
Resolution WHA53.17 (2000) Prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases.

Other key Secretariat documents produced in response to Member State requests include:

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The road to 2025 builds on the outcomes of the previous three High-level Meetings:

The 2018 Political declaration of the 3rd High-Level Meeting
The 2014 Outcome document of the 2nd High-Level Meeting
The 2011 Political Declaration of the 1st High-Level Meeting

Previous reports of the United Nations Secretary-General on the progress made in the prevention and control of NCDs

Fourth report (2017).
Third report (2013).
Second report (2011).
First report (2010).

WHO Noncommunicable Diseases Progress Monitor Reports

Reports of the WHO Director-General on the progress made in the prevention and control of NCDs

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Zero Draft Political Declaration

Released for Member State comment and consultation