Health and Global Policy Institute (HGPI) Chair Mr. Ryoji Noritake has endorsed the open letter “The UN at 80: Every Human Deserves a Longer, Healthier Future”, which calls for urgent global action to address the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

This open letter, released on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, has been co-signed by leaders and experts in health and policy from around the world. It highlights the escalating impact of NCDs—including cardiovascular disease, respiratory illness, cancer, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease—and urges the international community to focus on three key priorities:

1. Treat health as an investment, not a cost
   Strategic investment in health generates both economic and social returns. By preventing, diagnosing, and treating chronic diseases earlier, societies can shift from “sick care” systems to true “health care” systems.
2. Strengthen health systems
   Building resilient health systems requires sustained investment in primary care access, workforce capacity, and data infrastructure, especially in light of lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic.
3. Prioritize innovation and equitable access
   Advances in science, technology, and AI offer powerful tools to reduce the burden of disease. At the same time, policies must ensure that the benefits of innovation are accessible to all.

NCDs are projected to account for 86% of all annual deaths by 2050, with the heaviest toll borne by low- and middle-income countries. Driven by aging populations, climate change, urbanization, lifestyle factors, and limited access to care, the chronic disease crisis is straining health systems and economies worldwide.

Against this backdrop, the letter calls for urgent collective action to extend healthy life expectancy, strengthen communities, and ensure sustainable and equitable growth.

The full text of the open letter is available here.