This set of briefs, produced by WHO and UNDP, provides policy and decision makers across government with information on how non-communicable diseases (NCDs) impact their sector, and the proactive steps they can take to respond to the challenges while advancing their own objectives and accountabilities.

NCDs–principally cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer and chronic respiratory disease–are the world’s biggest killers. Urgent and whole-of-government action is needed to prevent the annual toll of 15 million people who die prematurely, between the ages of 30 and 69, from NCDs. Often misconstrued as a problem of high-income countries, NCDs place an equal–if not greater–burden on low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Over 80 percent of premature NCD deaths occur in LMICs.

Most premature NCD deaths are preventable by taking cost-effective action to tackle four main behavioural risk factors–tobacco use, harmful use of alcohol, physical inactivity and unhealthy diet. Addressing environmental risks (e.g. air pollution) is also key.

Tackling NCDs and their risk factors requires a response from government sectors beyond health. Multi-sectoral action for NCDs, endorsed in the 2011 Political Declaration on the Prevention and Control of NCDs and in numerous other high-level political decisions, is not a zero-sum game. It is possible to identify strategies and approaches that deliver shared gains and co-benefits for all sectors involved. This set of briefs has been adapted to the Thailand context.