The World Health Organization (WHO) has praised Nigeria, China, Egypt, Russia, Brazil, and Denmark for achieving notable progress in reducing deaths caused by non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
According to WHO’s new report “Saving Lives, Spending Less”, the biggest improvements were linked to reductions in cardiovascular-related deaths and certain cancers, including stomach and colorectal cancers for both sexes, cervical and breast cancers among women, and lung and prostate cancers among men.
However, the report also noted that pancreatic and liver cancers, along with neurological conditions, were driving mortality upward in many countries.
WHO highlighted that an additional annual investment of just $3 per person in combating NCDs could generate up to $1 trillion in economic benefits by 2030. The agency urged governments to prioritize cost-effective solutions to manage NCDs and strengthen mental health systems.
A companion analysis of progress from 2010 to 2019 showed that while 82% of countries reduced premature deaths from NCDs during the period, progress has slowed considerably, with some nations seeing a reversal.
NCDs remain the world’s leading cause of death, while over one billion people live with mental health conditions. Alarmingly, nearly 75% of NCD and mental health-related deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, resulting in about 32 million lives lost annually.
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described NCDs and mental health disorders as “silent killers” that undermine lives and innovation. He stressed that addressing them was both a public health necessity and an economic priority.
“We have the tools to save lives and reduce suffering,” he said. “Countries like Denmark, South Korea, and Moldova are showing what’s possible. Investing in NCDs and mental health is not only smart economics—it’s a moral imperative for thriving societies.”
WHO warned that industries producing tobacco, alcohol, and ultra-processed foods often resist or delay health policies such as taxation and advertising restrictions. Dr. Etienne Krug, Director of WHO’s Department of Health Determinants, Promotion, and Prevention, said governments must prioritize people over corporate profits.
The report outlined WHO’s “Best Buys”—interventions like hypertension management, tobacco and alcohol taxation, cervical cancer screening, and protecting children from harmful marketing—that could save 12 million lives, prevent 28 million heart attacks and strokes, and add 150 million healthy life years by 2030.
The Fourth UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs and Mental Health, scheduled for September 25 in New York, will be a defining moment for global health policy. Leaders are expected to adopt a new Political Declaration aimed at scaling up investment, reinforcing human rights, and delivering long-term impact.
“We know what works. The time to act is now,” said Dr. Devora Kestel, WHO Director for NCDs and Mental Health. “Governments that act decisively will save lives and strengthen economies. Those that hesitate will face higher costs and deeper losses.”