After being recognized as a full member of the NCD Alliance on January 17th, 2019, Health and Global Policy Institute (HGPI) became Japan’s representative in the NCD Alliance, a collaborative platform established in 2013 that brings together over 2000 civil society organizations and academic institutions in more than 170 countries.

The NCD Alliance’s third global forum Global NCD Alliance Forum 2020: Bridging the Gap was held from February 9th to 11th, 2020. HGPI Senior Associate Yuko Imamura and HGPI Associate Go Aso participated as administrative members of NCD Alliance Japan.

The forum addressed the theme of “Bridging the Gap,” referring to gaps in NCDs, politics, society, and the economy. For three days, approximately 400 delegates including people living with non-communicable diseases (PLWNCDs) and Alliance representatives from 85 countries and regions around the world discussed appropriate global measures to be taken for NCDs in every country and region.

In the spirit of the words “Nothing for us, without us,” presentations addressed subjects including the importance of basing NCD strategy and planning on the stories and opinions of PLWNCDs; the importance of viewing measures to combat NCDs as long-term investments in health instead of as costs; and the importance of transitioning from disease-oriented approaches, in which healthcare and welfare intervention only takes place after someone is diagnosed with an NCD, to life course approaches, which seek to control risk factors before symptoms emerge for every NCD.

Delegates divided into groups by region such as Africa, Asia, and Europe to discuss future approaches to combating NCDs that should be implemented in each region or country.

The WHO estimated that NCDs caused approximately 39.5 million, or 70%, of global deaths In 2015.

As a full member of the NCD Alliance, NCD Alliance Japan will continue to contribute to solving challenges in the field of NCDs.