SEA/RC67/23 - Regional action plan and targets for prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases (2013–2020) (SEA/RC66/R6)

Abstract

Noncommunicable diseases (‎NCDs)‎, such as heart disease and stroke, cancer, diabetes and chronic lung diseases, have emerged as leading causes of death in the South-East Asia Region. The Sixty-sixth Session of the Regional Committee adopted the regional action plan for the period 2013–2020 and endorsed 10 regional targets for the prevention and control of NCDs. Notable progress has been made in the Region with regard to the development of national multisectoral action plans to control NCDs, implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (‎WHO FCTC)‎, improved surveillance and monitoring systems, and introduction of early detection and management of NCDs in primary health-care systems. Key challenges include ineffective enforcement of policies and legislations, inadequate human and financial resources, and limited multisectoral partnerships. The High-Level Preparatory (‎HLP)‎ Meeting held in the Regional Office in New Delhi, India, from 14 to 17 July 2014 reviewed the attached document and made the following recommendations: Actions by Member States (‎1)‎ Cost-effective and affordable multisectoral interventions for the prevention and control of NCDs should be scaled up to achieve the global and regional voluntary targets by 2025. (‎2)‎ Oral health services should be integrated within NCD programmes and implementation of the Regional Oral Health Strategy accelerated. Action by the WHO Regional Office (‎1)‎ WHO should continue to facilitate and coordinate the sharing of experiences and best practices, including tracking of progress on key NCD indicators and targets. The working paper and the HLP recommendations are submitted to the Sixty-seventh Session of the Regional Committee for its consideration.