Prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases in the European Region: a progress report

Noncommunicable diseases continue to be the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the European Region. Member States have made significant progress in implementation of prevention and control activities in keeping with the mandates set forth by the Health 2020 and the "Action Plan for Implementation of the European Strategy for Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases 2012-2016".

This report aims to demonstrate achievements made in the various proposed action areas, reporting the activities already undertaken and future plans, through presentation of data for the region derived from WHO’s NCD Country Capacity Survey 2013. While the report reveals gaps and challenges faced in the achievement of desired objectives, it also highlights examples of innovation in contextualization of interventions within various countries in the region. These, in addition to the impressive progress documented herein, are intended to challenge Member States to scale up efforts to eliminate the needless loss of life and productivity caused by NCDs within the region.