On 25 September, world leaders will gather at the United Nations for the Fourth High-Level Meeting on Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs). It comes at a pivotal moment: funding for global health has plummeted, while NCDs like heart disease, cancer and diabetes continue to claim 75% of all lives lost worldwide. This amid recent efforts to water […] Continue reading ->
For every $1 invested in cost-effective “best buys” to prevent non-communicable diseases (NCDs) over the next five years, there would be a four-fold return in social and economic benefits, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The WHO’s 29 “best buys” focus on reducing tobacco and alcohol consumption, addressing unhealthy diets and lack of exercise, […] Continue reading ->
The final political declaration for the United Nations High-Level Meeting (HLM) on NCDs is substantially weaker than the zero draft, no longer referring to taxing sugar-sweetened beverages – while describing higher taxes on tobacco and alcohol as “considerations… in line with national circumstances” rather than concrete proposals. However, targets for reducing tobacco use and increasing […] Continue reading ->
WHO’s 2025 Essential Medicines Lists (EML), published Friday, has included the active ingredients in popular weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy –  semaglutide or other comparable  GLP-1 receptor agonists – in a recommendation that recognizes the growing importance of the drugs in clinical treatment of diabetes worldwide.  These drugs, as well as new PD-1/PD-L1 […] Continue reading ->