Novo Nordisk supports new global commitment to fight noncommunicable diseases

This week, the World Health Assembly unanimously adopted a global action plan for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) 2013-2020. This is the first time member states of the World Health Organisation agree on a set of global targets for NCDs – leading the way for concerted action against NCDs worldwide, as requested at the UN high-level meeting on NCDs in 2011.

The global NCD action plan for 2013-2020 also contains a monitoring framework of 25 indicators as well as an agreement to develop a global coordination mechanism. All elements of the action plan are meant to enable collaboration to better prevent and control particularly heart diseases, stroke, cancer, diabetes and chronic lung diseases.

Novo Nordisk supports the new framework for action against the largely preventable NCDs, which are the leading cause of death in the world today[1].

“Many people are not aware that noncommunicable diseases including diabetes kill more people globally than malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS. WHO’s action plan is an important step in the fight against these diseases”, says Lars Rebien Sørensen, president and CEO of Novo Nordisk.

More than 35 million people die as a result of NCDs every year[2] and close to five million of these deaths are due to diabetes alone.[3] Reducing mortality from the major NCDs by 25% by year 2025 is the first target of the NCD action plan – a fundamental step to challenge a major global health burden. The other targets address lifestyle issues threatening public health, such as the intake of salt and tobacco use, as well as treatment needs, and the availability of affordable, essential medicines, including insulin.

Distributing its products in 180 countries, Novo Nordisk serves patients’ needs across the globe, not least in low- and middle-income countries where 4 out of 5 people with diabetes live today[4]. The company provides more than 50% of all insulin in the world and has made a commitment to always have low-priced insulin in its portfolio. In 2012, Novo Nordisk sold large quantities of human insulin through public tenders around the world – serving what equals close to five million people with diabetes, at an average price of less than 0.2 US dollars per patient per day.

About WHO’s Global NCD Framework

The global action plan for the prevention and control of NCDs is a response to the growing global burden of NCDs. Across the world, these diseases constitute a major challenge to public health and undermine social and economic development. The WHO emphasises that: ”For all countries, the cost of inaction far outweighs the cost of taking action on noncommunicable diseases as recommended in this action plan[5].”

The development of the 2013-2020 global NCD action plan is based on the international efforts led by the UN to address NCDs globally, lessons learnt from the experiences with the 2008-2013 action plan and several rounds of consultations with stakeholders throughout the past year.

For more information about the global NCD Action Plan

For more information about the Sixty-sixth World Health Assembly

References

1. Draft action plan for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases 2013–2020, Report by the WHO Secretariat, http://www.who.int/nmh/publications/ncd_action_plan2013.pdf
2. [2] Number of estimated deaths from NCDs in 2008 was 36 million, draft action plan for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases 2013–2020, Report by the WHO Secretariat, http://www.who.int/nmh/publications/ncd_action_plan2013.pdf
3. 2012 update of IDF Diabetes Atlas, 5th edition, 2011.
4. 2012 update of IDF Diabetes Atlas, 5th edition, 2011.
5. Draft action plan for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases 2013–2020, Report by the WHO Secretariat, http://www.who.int/nmh/publications/ncd_action_plan2013.pdf