Global Health Experts Call for Increased Investment in NCDs and Mental Health

HEALTH experts have urged governments worldwide to prioritize investments in non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health, warning that many countries have de-prioritized health since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Speaking during a tele-briefing on a new NCD investment report on Wednesday, Associate Professor of Global Health at the University of Washington Dr David Watkins, emphasized the need for governments to step up investments in NCDs and mental health ahead of the fourth United Nations High-Level Meeting (HLM4).
“We can achieve a lot by getting the drug prices down… What we call for is the re-allocation of health resources and specifically towards preventing these very costly and damaging conditions,” Dr. Watkins said.
He also highlighted that lower-income countries pay the most for medicines for NCD-related diseases, calling for governments to procure medicines at cheaper prices collectively.
NCD Alliance Policy Advocate Director Alison Cox noted that despite progress in global policy and action plans since the first UNHLM in 2011, a significant implementation gap remains. “There has been a great deal of progress in terms of global policy, action plans, but there has been a significant implementation gap,” she said.
Ms Cox emphasized the need for stronger investments and leadership, highlighting that 1.3 billion people have been pushed into poverty due to health spending, with NCDs driving poverty and undermining economies.
Nupur Lalvani, NCD advocate and founder of Diabetes Blue Circle India, stressed the importance of political will in achieving universal health coverage. “When there is political will and when people come together, multilateral organizations, governments, and academics, there is really a lot that can be done. Everyone deserves a chance to live well,” she said.
The experts called for prioritizing healthcare, investing in supply chains and infrastructure in rural areas, and working with the private sector to prevent and control NCDs associated with unhealthy lifestyles.