White papers
Published: 16 January 2026

Acting Early on Non-Communicable Diseases: A Framework for Health System Transformation

Health systems worldwide face a growing crisis: as populations live longer, the increasing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) – such as cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes – is straining resources and diminishing quality of life. NCDs account for 75% of global deaths, threatening the sustainability of even well-funded systems.

Health systems worldwide face a growing crisis: as populations live longer, the increasing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) – such as cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes – is straining resources and diminishing quality of life. NCDs account for 75% of global deaths, threatening the sustainability of even well-funded systems.

This white paper, commissioned by the Partnership for Health System Sustainability and Resilience (PHSSR), analyses eight diverse health systems to identify structural barriers that universally hinder early, cost-effective interventions and keep systems reliant on expensive, reactive late-stage care.

Effective action on NCDs requires a strategic approach, one that tackles root causes related to risk factors and inequalities, emphasizes prevention and early intervention, and ensures long-term system sustainability. Acting Early on Non-Communicable Diseases: A Framework for Health System Transformation offers a framework of strategic policy levers and actionable recommendations across the patient care continuum, backed by five underpinning principles for health system transformation.

For more about PHSSR research, read here: https://www.phssr.org/research

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