The Coalition at UNGA80 - making the case for investing better in NCDs
Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of early death globally, claiming 43 million lives and costing the global economy over USD $2 trillion every year. Yet 80% of these deaths are preventable with timely screening and prevention as well as affordable and uninterrupted access to NCD care and commodities.
With just five years until the 2030 deadline for the Sustainable Development Goal target 3.4 of reducing premature mortality from NCDs by one-third, the time for accelerating action against NCDs is now. Yet, a new analyses by the World Health Organization shows progress towards reducing NCD mortality is stalling across most regions—and in some countries, reversing.
The upcoming United Nations Fourth High-Level Meeting on NCDs and mental health (HLM4) is a critical moment for governments to commit to bold actions that advance equitable access to high-quality and affordable NCD services. Despite increasing pressures on financing due to shifts in the global health landscape, there has never been a more urgent time to invest more, invest better, and strengthen transparency in NCDs.
Explore below a listing of side events, roundtables, and other sessions co-convened by members of the Coalition for Access to NCD Medicines and Products at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Monday, 22 September
Where do we go from here? Rethinking financing for NCDs and mental health for equity and impact
8:30–11:30 AM; Devex NCD Pavillion
Hosted by Devex | Supported by Access Accelerated, AstraZeneca, and Boehringer Ingelheim.
This workshop will explore how stakeholders can move from commitments to action by rethinking NCD and mental health financing strategies for resilience, equity, and impact. The session will focus on highlighting practical financing strategies to implement global commitments from HLM4 for locally-led, sustainable health financing solutions for NCDs and mental health.
Global Metabolic Health Roundtable: MASLD/MASH and other major NCDs
1:00–3:30 PM; Devex NCD Pavillion
Hosted by Devex with Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Novo Nordisk, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Echosens
This event will explore how policy frameworks that support integrated care models can offer a critical solution to addressing the complex and interconnected nature of NCDs— ensuring no disease and no client are left behind.
20 Years of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC): Driving Global Action on Tobacco Control and NCDs
3:00–5:30 PM; Bryant Park Modern Aesthetics Loft
Convened by Cancer Research UK, the Global Alliance for Tobacco Control, WHO FCTC Secretariat, WHO Tobacco Free Initiative, and the NCD Alliance
This side event will bring together civil society, international organizations, and governments to celebrate progress, reflect on lessons learned, and highlight how tobacco control can strengthen the wider NCD response. More specifically, the event will celebrate the FCTC’s progress, challenges, and role of multilateralism; highlight how tobacco control lessons can inform and strengthen broader NCD prevention strategies; and share government perspectives and country experiences in advancing tobacco control.
Sustaining joint actions, coherent policies and inclusive programmes on NCDs and mental health: 4th Multistakeholder Gathering
6:00–8:00 PM; The Scandinavia House
Convened by World Health Organization Global Coordination Mechanism, NCD Alliance, World Diabetes Foundation, and Viatris
This year’s Multi Stakeholder Gathering will spotlight country experiences, highlight data-driven and evidence-informed approaches, and introduce powerful narratives to mobilize action. The event will also launch three new thematic issue briefs on governance, data sharing, and narrative-building to drive multi-stakeholder action in the NCD and mental health response.
Tuesday, 23 September
The Power of Convergence: Enabling Prevention and Management of Obesity and Related NCDs
9:00–4:30 PM; Cure
Convened by The Global Health Connector | Support by Novo Nordisk
This session will explore the urgent need for a convergent approach across economy, finance, health, and science sectors, examining how cross-sector collaboration can unlock innovative financing, drive systemic change, and create integrated solutions that move from reactive illness care to proactive wellness systems.
Reimagining Diabetes Care: Innovative Pathways to Equity, Access, and Impact
4:30–6:00 PM; Accenture NYC Office
Convened by Accenture and PATH
This executive roundtable will focus on how the private sector can drive advancement of integrated, people-centered care pathways and systems to optimize diabetes care in low-and-middle-income countries. This session will highlight case studies showcasing “best buys” for promoting integrated diabetes care—including innovative financing, self-care, and digitally-enabled solutions—and close with a candid discussion to identify the most promising opportunities for transforming diabetes care pathways.
Wednesday, 24 September
Healthy Starts: Accelerating NCD Prevention and Care for Every Child
8:00–10:00 AM; Ease@605
Convened by Eli Lilly and Company, Helmsley Charitable Trust, and UNICEF USA
This event will convene key partners and thought leaders to discuss the urgent need to strengthen prevention and care for childhood NCDs. Together, we will explore opportunities for cross-sector collaboration, policy action, and investment to accelerate progress toward resilient health systems that support every child.
Japan’s Innovation and Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships for Tackling NCDs: Advancing the Pathway to Universal Health Coverage
8:00–9:15 AM; The Riverpark
Hosted by the Japan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association | Sponsored by the Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations and International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations
This high-level roundtable will highlight Japanese innovations and case studies that catalyze international dialogue and cooperation for NCD prevention, control, and progress toward Universal Health Coverage.
Equity and integration: Reshaping health systems through people-centered primary care – a call for convergence and co-investment
9:00–11:00 AM; New York Marriott Marquis
Convened by World Diabetes Foundation, FIND Diagnostics, NCD Alliance, UNAIDS, United for Global Mental Health, Resolve to Save Lives
In the lead-up to HLM4, join global health leaders, governments, implementers, donors, civil society, and people with lived experience for a high-impact side event to explore how integrated primary health care—anchored in equity and people-centered approaches—can strengthen health systems and advance universal health coverage and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Health Forum: Renewed Investment for Maximum Impact
10:30 AM–2:00 PM; Studio Gather
Hosted Foreign Policy | Sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim, the Gates Foundation, Eli Lilly and Company, Merck, Roche, Sanofi, AstraZeneca, and the Rockefeller Foundation
Foreign Policy’s Health Forum at UNGA80 will convene a series of solutions-focused conversations with policymakers, industry leaders, and civil society experts who are working to tackle these pressing challenges. Discussions will focus on innovative investment strategies to close global health gaps; collaborative ways to address the rising burden of disease and persistent inequities in access to care and medicine; and how to strengthen health systems and support frontline workers to improve health outcomes around the world.
Advancing access and financing for NCD medicines and products: Translating political commitments into practical, collaborative action on NCD prevention and care
1:00–2:30 PM; Chrysler Building
Convened by the Consulate General of Denmark in New York, Ministry of Health of Brazil (Ministério da Saúde), Coalition for Access to NCD Medicines & Products, Novo Nordisk, International Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association, Access Accelerated, and PATH
This high-level event will bring together governments, civil society, global health partners, and technical experts to spotlight country commitments announced at HLM4 and define the next steps needed to translate commitments into concrete actions to close financing and access gaps for NCD medicines and products.
Accelerating action toward SDG 3.4: putting obesity on the NCD agenda
4:00–7:00 PM
Hosted by The Economist Impact | Sponsored by Novo Nordisk
An expert panel will discuss innovative policy solutions and collaborative strategies, drawing on insights from Economist Impact’s “National Obesity Action Plan Playbook” to highlight practical, evidence-based interventions for prevention and care of obesity and related NCDs.