New Plan Sets Course for Reducing NCDs in the Americas
Health authorities from across the Americas approved a landmark 2025-2030 Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) during the 62nd Directing Council of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). The plan aims to confront the region’s leading causes of death and disability—cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory illnesses—by strengthening primary health care, expanding prevention programs, and boosting data-driven policymaking.
Strategic Lines to Accelerate Change
PAHO’s plan rests on three strategic lines of action designed to reverse troubling trends in NCDs, which cause an estimated 6 million deaths annually in the region and account for a significant share of premature deaths before age 70. The actions are:
- Reducing risk factors and expanding health promotion interventions to prevent the onset of NCDs.
- Integrating the management of NCDs into primary health care to improve diagnosis, treatment, and control.
- Strengthening surveillance of NCDs and their risk factors to inform policy and track progress.
These lines reflect a commitment to a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach, recognizing that durable progress requires coordinated actions across health, education, fiscal policy, and civil society.
Addressing the Burden and Barriers
The action plan highlights the region’s current burden: about 240 million people live with an NCD in the Americas, and nearly 40% of NCD deaths occur prematurely. While there has been progress in reducing tobacco use, tobacco remains a major risk factor, alongside harmful alcohol consumption, unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, and obesity. Specific challenges include limited access to diagnosis and treatment—only about 36% of people with hypertension have controlled blood pressure, and more than 40 million people with diabetes lack adequate treatment.
To turn the tide, the plan calls for a suite of policy and programmatic measures that countries can implement at scale. These include fiscal policies to curb tobacco, alcohol, and sugar-sweetened beverages; front-of-package warning labels on ultra-processed foods; restrictions on marketing to children; and stronger integration of NCD prevention and care into primary health services. The plan also emphasizes vaccination and screening programs, such as HPV vaccination and cervical cancer screenings, as essential components of a broader NCD strategy.
Innovation, Digital Tools, and Resource Mobilization
Leveraging digital solutions and innovative tools is another cornerstone of the action plan. Enhanced data surveillance, real-time monitoring, and evidence-based policymaking are expected to strengthen national capacity to prevent and manage NCDs and allocate resources efficiently. PAHO will provide technical support to member countries as they mobilize financial resources and implement priority actions, including capacity-building in primary care and community-based health promotion.
Monitoring and Looking Ahead
The plan includes a robust monitoring framework with biennial reviews, a midterm assessment in 2028, and a final report in 2031. Through these evaluations, PAHO will track progress, identify bottlenecks, and share best practices across the region. The overarching goal is to reach sustainable improvements in health outcomes by building resilient health systems that center people and communities.
A Shared Commitment to Health Equity and Development
By adopting the 2025-2030 Action Plan, countries in the Americas reaffirm their commitment to public health and sustainable development. As Dr. Anselm Hennis, Director of PAHO’s Department of Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health, noted, the plan represents a pivotal step toward transforming NCD prevention and care. The initiative positions the region to reduce preventable deaths, improve quality of life, and strengthen health systems against future challenges.
