WHO Regional Director for Europe’s Advisory Council on Innovation for Noncommunicable Diseases

In response to the pressing need to reduce noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and their risk factors across the WHO European Region, the WHO Regional Director for Europe has established the Advisory Council on Innovation for Noncommunicable Diseases (NCD Advisory Council). It is aimed at gathering the best expertise on the topic and inspiring Member States to reach the NCD-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

NCD Advisory Council: why now?

More than 80% of all deaths in the WHO European Region are caused by NCDs, and the trend is even more worrying in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 patients with NCDs such as hypertension and diabetes or risk factors such as obesity have worse COVID-19 outcomes including intensive care admissions and death.

In line with the vision set by the European Programme of Work (EPW) 2020–2025 – “United Action for Better Health in Europe”, WHO/Europe is committed to the continued advancement of the fight against NCDs and supporting health authorities in Member States to rise to this major challenge, in each country and collectively in the Region.

The 5 major NCDs include cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases, diabetes and mental health conditions. Their rise has been driven by behavioural risk factors (tobacco use, physical inactivity, unhealthy diets and alcohol consumption) as well as metabolic risk factors (raised blood pressure, overweight/obesity, raised blood glucose and raised blood fats) and air pollution.

Despite the progress that many Member States are making towards reaching SDG target 3.4, which calls for a reduction of premature mortality from NCDs by a third by 2030, the pace of mortality reduction is has been slowing down in recent years.

NCD Advisory Council’s Mission

The mission of the Council is to provide independent advice for the Regional Director to support Member States’ efforts towards NCD prevention and control, and the achievement of the health-related SDGs. The NCD Advisory Council has no executive, normative or regulatory function.

The key functions of the NCD Advisory Council

The Council’s key functions are:

• to provide the best expertise and advice for innovative approaches to reduce the prevalence of NCDs in the WHO European Region;
• to recommend specific ways to strengthen collaboration with relevant sectors, partners and stakeholders;
• to provide a forum for sharing policy and technical experience and knowledge;
• to provide guidance and support to WHO/Europe in shaping the future architecture of the NCD political agenda at regional, national and subnational levels.

The work of the NCD Advisory Council is anchored in the EPW 2020–2025, the core principles of which comprise moving towards universal health coverage, better protecting people against health emergencies and ensuring healthy lives and well-being for all.

NCD Advisory Council meetings

The NCD Advisory Council is expected to convene twice a year. Additional meetings may be held at the request of the Regional Director and working groups on priority topics, on an ad hoc basis.

The agenda and topics for discussion will be developed by the NCD Advisory Council Secretariat through consultation with Council members. The functions of the Secretariat are performed by the WHO European Office for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases (NCD Office), Moscow, Russian Federation, with the support of several WHO country representatives.

The first NCD Advisory Council meeting was held on 14 December 2020.

Members of the NCD Advisory Council

The Regional Director appoints the members of the Council, who are invited to serve for 3 years.

The members include leading experts from governments, academia, think tanks, and professional and civil society organizations representing a broad range of disciplines, expertise and experience that encompasses many aspects of NCDs.