Work toward this outcome aims to a) address the underlying social, economic, and environmental determinants of noncommunicable diseases and the impact of economic, commercial, and market factors, and b) reduce the most common risk factors for the leading NCDs, namely cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory disease. These risk factors include harmful use of alcohol, tobacco use, unhealthy diet, insufficient physical activity, and air pollution.

Many social and environmental determinants and risk factors for NCDs, and the solutions to these risk factors, lie beyond the health sector. Therefore, there is a need for coordinated intersectoral action with a whole-of-government approach, led by the Ministry of Health, and a whole-of-society approach including civil society and the private sector, taking into account real or perceived conflicts of interest.

Activities will include surveillance of NCD risk factors and strengthening of health promotion throughout the life course. This requires steps to promote healthy environments, mass media campaigns, school and workplace programs, and policy options such as those described in the WHO Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of NCDs 2013-2020, including regulatory measures as appropriate. This will involve using economic studies to support fiscal policies, building cases for investment to address NCDs, and determining return on investment for the main risk factors. It is essential to support implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and, for those countries that are Parties, the new Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products.

Note: For further details on the scope of this Outcome, please refer to the PAHO Strategic Plan 20-25 Document.