Civil society leaders call for bold action in UN NCD declaration

A recent opinion piece in The BMJ, co-authored by World Obesity Federation CEO, Johanna Ralston, and other members of the WHO Civil Society Working Group on Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs), calls for the upcoming UN Political Declaration on NCDs and mental health to be more ambitious, inclusive, and action-driven.

The authors argue that the current zero draft of the declaration does not go far enough to address the scale and urgency of the global burden of NCDs and mental health conditions, which account for more than 43 million deaths annually. They urge world leaders to seize the opportunity of the September 2025 UN High-Level Meeting to strengthen accountability, advance equity, and secure sustainable action.

Key recommendations include:

• A stronger stance on commercial determinants of health, including harmful marketing and food systems
• Explicit commitments to climate-resilient health systems and planetary health
• A shift from siloed, disease-specific approaches to integrated, person-centred primary care
• Formal mechanisms for social participation, especially by youth and people with lived experience
• Transparent and independent accountability structures involving civil society
• Adequate financing and investment to support prevention, care, and workforce development

The article emphasises that without bold revisions, the declaration risks becoming a missed opportunity. The authors call for the inclusion of equity, justice, and meaningful action at the heart of the global response to NCDs and mental health.