Health and Global Policy Institute (HGPI), an independent, non-profit, and non-partisan thinktank, and the NCD Alliance Japan held a UNGA-HLM4 High-Level Meeting side event titled “Towards Better NCD and Mental Health Policies in the International Community: Japan’s Contributions and Global and Regional Collaboration” on Friday, September 26, 2025, in New York, USA.

This event took place following the Fourth United Nations High-Level Meeting on the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and the Promotion of Mental Health and Well-being (HLM4), which was held on Thursday, September 25, during the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). This marked the fourth time NCDs have been addressed at the heads-of-state level at the UN, underlining the urgency of international collaboration in addressing the global burden of NCDs.

In response to this global momentum, HGPI and the NCD Alliance Japan convened stakeholders from governments, academia, industry, and civil society from across Asia and the world the day after the high-level meeting. The purpose was to discuss the future direction of NCDs and mental health measures and to identify concrete next steps for action grounded on the commitments and outcomes of the UN discussions.

The side event was animated by dynamic and inclusive discussions centered on the voices of people living with NCDs and mental illness from around the world. Participants exchanged views on current initiatives, efforts, and challenges in Asia, future priority areas, and approaches for international collaboration, cooperation and sustainable policy implementation amid limited resources. The potential for leveraging Japan’s experiences was also discussed. During the Q&A session, speakers and participants engaged in lively exchanges, sharing perspectives on the challenges and opportunities for Japan and Asia to show leadership going forward.

The event also included a congratulatory message from Mr. Shigeru Ishiba, who was serving as a Prime Minister at the time, which was read aloud during the opening session.

*A summary of key discussion points from this event will be published at a later date.

[Event Overview]

• Date & Time: Friday, September 26, 2025, 11:00-13:30 EDT
• Venue: The Nippon Club (145 West 57th Street, New York, NY 10019)
• Language: English
• Host: Health and Global Policy Institute (HGPI)/ NCD Alliance Japan
• Co-host: Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations / NCD Alliance

[Program] (Title omitted, in no particular order, affiliation and title at the time of participation)

11:00-11:10	Congratulatory Address
	Shigeru Ishiba (Prime Minister) *HGPI had the message read on his behalf.
11:15-11:20	Explanatory Introduction
	Nana Moriguchi (Associate, Health and Global Policy Institute)
11:15-11:20	Video of People Living with NCDs in Japan
	Yukari Hosogoe (Person Living with Kidney Diseases)
	Hitoshi Fukuhara (Person Living with Cardiovascular Disease /Representative Director, Heart Valve Voice)
	Kazuo Hasegawa (Person Living with Lung Cancer /Representative, NPO Lung Cancer Patient Network One Step)
11:20-12:50	Roundtable Discussion “Promoting Person-Centered NCDs and Mental Health Policies in the Global Community: Japan’s leadership and Contribution in Asia and Globally”
	Speakers:
	Satoshi Ezoe (Senior Assistant Minister for Global Health, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Government of Japan)
	Saia Ma’u Piukala (Regional Director for the Western Pacific, World Health Organization)
	Kim Yoohyun (Person Living with Obesity / Chair, Healthy Together Social Cooperative)
	Seth Ginsberg (Person Living with Spondylarthritis / President, Global Healthy Living Foundation)
	Clélia-Elsa Froguel (Senior Director, Global Policy, AstraZeneca PLC)
	Mandeep Dhaliwal (Director, HIV and Health Group, Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, United Nations Development Programme)
	Abdul Malik (Person Living with Mental Illness and Mental Health Advocate / Former Minister, State for Gender, Family and Social Services, Under Secretary for Health and Social Policy, President’s Office in the Maldives / President, Maldives NCD Alliance, Our Views, Our Voices Global Advisory Committee Member)
	Moderator: Eri Yoshimura (Senior Manager, Health and Global Policy Institute)
12:50-13:00	Closing Remarks
	Saunthari Somasundaram (President Elect, NCD Alliance / Co-Chairperson, NCD Malaysia / President and Medical Director, National Cancer Society Malaysia)
13:00-13:30	Networking