Monitoring noncommunicable disease commitments in Europe. Theme in focus: progress monitor indicators (2017)

This annual publication reports on progress achieved in the WHO European Region and individual Member States in the fight against noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). It presents selected recent data on NCD surveillance, in line with global and regional frameworks such as the Global Monitoring Framework (GMF), Health 2020, progress monitoring (PM) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Each edition focuses on a different topic: this year’s theme is progress towards implementation of “best buys” for the governance, surveillance, prevention and management of NCDs – the so-called “PM indicators”. Implementation of PM indicators has improved significantly over the last two years in the WHO European Region. Between 2015 and 2017 the proportion of full implementation of indicators in countries increased on average from 34% to 42%; that of at least partial implementation increased from 69% to 76%.

Substantial progress has been made in reducing premature mortality from NCDs in the Region in recent years. If current trends continue, both the Region as whole and many Member States will probably achieve the global SDG target 3.4 to reduce premature mortality from NCDs by one third by 2030, even under the continuing “business as usual” scenario. Furthermore, leapfrogging of progress is possible if implementation of the best buys is further accelerated, so countries in the Region may consider adopting more ambitious premature mortality goals. While premature mortality trends are favourable, several other GMF targets – like reductions in harmful use of alcohol and prevalence of tobacco use, as well as the halt of the rise diabetes and obesity – will not be reached if current trends continue.