New workplan for multisectoral and multistakeholder action: WHO’s Global Coordination Mechanism on the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health conditions are a globally leading cause of death and disability. Cardiovascular diseases, cancers, respiratory diseases, and diabetes – together with mental health disorders, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, other psychoses, and dementia, – pose one of the most significant global health challenges of our time.

Heads of State and Government have recently reaffirmed their commitment to provide strategic leadership for the prevention and control of NCDs by promoting greater policy coherence and coordination through whole-of-government and health-in-all-policies approaches. This includes engaging multiple stakeholders in an appropriate, coordinated, comprehensive and integrated bold `whole of society` action and response.

On 25 May 2022, the Seventy-fifth World Health Assembly approved the WHO GCM/NCD’s new workplan, blueprinting a united and inclusive approach to reducing the burden of NCDs and mental health conditions at local, national, and global scales. Across its priority areas, the workplan focuses on sharing knowledge and best practices among stakeholders, sparking new multisectoral collaboration, and creating meaningful engagement with people living NCDs and mental health conditions.

The World Health Organization’s Global Coordination Mechanism on the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases (WHO GCM/NCD) is a Member State-led platform facilitating multistakeholder engagement and cross-sectoral collaboration to prevent and control NCDs and mental health conditions. Founded in 2014, the WHO GCM/NCD’s mandate was last year extended until 2030.

“To achieve our vision of a world free from premature mortality from NCDs, Member States have strengthened the WHO GCM/NCD’s mandate to convene and connect relevant partners, elevate the voices of people living with NCDs, and leverage technical expertise from WHO and partner organizations.", says Dr. Guy Fones, Unit Head of the Secretariat of the Global Coordination Mechanism.

> Read the WHO feature story on the new GCM workplan