New 2025–2030 Action Plan Targets Noncommunicable Diseases Across the Americas

Health authorities from across the Americas have officially approved a new Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) for 2025–2030, during the 62nd Directing Council of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). The initiative marks a major regional commitment to tackling the leading cause of death and disability in the Americas: noncommunicable diseases such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory illnesses.

This plan, built around strengthening primary health care systems, aims to accelerate efforts that reduce risk factors, improve early detection, and make treatments more accessible to millions.

What the Plan Is About

The 2025–2030 Action Plan is designed as a regional blueprint to help countries address the growing burden of NCDs in a structured and measurable way. It comes at a crucial time when NCDs are responsible for roughly 6 million deaths every year in the Americas. Even more worrying, about 40% of these deaths occur prematurely—before the age of 70.

The plan is not just about statistics—it’s about changing how health systems function. It urges countries to integrate NCD management into primary care, making prevention and treatment part of everyday health services rather than isolated programs.

Currently, 240 million people in the region live with one or more chronic conditions. Despite some progress in recent years—particularly in reducing tobacco use—many challenges remain. Around 35% of adults are physically inactive, and one in three adults lives with obesity. Access to essential care is also limited: only 36% of people with hypertension have their blood pressure under control, and more than 40 million people with diabetes still lack proper treatment.

These figures underline why the region needs stronger action and more coordinated policies to prevent and manage NCDs effectively.

The Three Strategic Pillars

The plan focuses on three main lines of action that together create a framework for change:

Reducing Risk Factors and Expanding Health Promotion
The first goal is to reduce exposure to key risk factors—such as tobacco use, harmful alcohol consumption, poor diet, and physical inactivity—through comprehensive health promotion and policy interventions.
- Countries are encouraged to adopt fiscal policies like taxes on tobacco, alcohol, and sugar-sweetened beverages, which have proven effective in reducing consumption.
- The plan also promotes front-of-package warning labels on ultra-processed foods to help consumers make informed choices.
- It calls for restrictions on marketing unhealthy foods and beverages, especially those targeted at children and adolescents.
- Governments are urged to create environments that make healthy choices easier, such as promoting public spaces for physical activity and improving access to nutritious foods.
Integrating NCD Management into Primary Health Care
The second pillar focuses on bringing NCD care directly into community-level health systems. This means that primary care clinics should be equipped to handle early detection, diagnosis, and long-term management of chronic diseases.
- This includes adopting WHO’s Package of Essential Noncommunicable Disease Interventions (PEN) and PAHO’s HEARTS initiative, both designed to improve hypertension and cardiovascular disease management at the primary care level.
- The goal is to make chronic care continuous, coordinated, and people-centered, rather than fragmented or hospital-based.
- The plan also encourages training healthcare workers, improving referral systems, and ensuring access to essential medicines and technologies.
Strengthening Surveillance and Monitoring Systems
The third pillar emphasizes data-driven action. Reliable data on NCDs and their risk factors is essential for planning and measuring success.
- The plan calls for modernized surveillance systems, digital tools, and regular data reporting to track both risk behaviors and disease outcomes.
- Progress will be evaluated through biennial reviews, with a midterm review in 2028 and a final report in 2031.
- Countries are also encouraged to use innovative digital health tools for data collection and monitoring, which can improve policymaking and help direct resources where they are needed most.

Building on Broader Health Efforts

The new NCD plan aligns with PAHO’s ongoing “Better Care for NCDs Initiative”, which aims to make chronic disease management a central part of health care across the Americas. It also complements other PAHO-led efforts to strengthen resilient health systems and promote universal access to health.

Importantly, this plan does not stand alone. It is part of a larger set of actions approved at the 62nd Directing Council, including PAHO’s Strategic Plan 2026–2031, which outlines long-term goals for health equity and preparedness in the region.

Key Measures and Policy Tools

Several specific policy measures are highlighted in the new plan:

Fiscal Policies: Increasing taxes on tobacco, alcohol, and sugary drinks to reduce consumption.
Food Labeling: Mandating clear, front-of-package warning labels on foods high in salt, sugar, or fats.
Advertising Restrictions: Limiting marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages to children.
Vaccination and Screening: Expanding HPV vaccination and cervical cancer screening to improve early detection and reduce cancer deaths.
Digital Solutions: Using new technologies to track trends, monitor policy effectiveness, and support evidence-based decision-making.

This multi-pronged approach reflects a growing recognition that tackling NCDs requires “whole-of-government” and “whole-of-society” participation—not just action by health ministries.

Oversight and Timeline

The plan will be monitored every two years, allowing countries to review progress and adjust strategies as needed. PAHO will conduct a midterm review in 2028 and release a comprehensive final report in 2031.

PAHO also pledged to help member states mobilize financial and technical resources, ensuring that the plan can be implemented effectively across different economic contexts.

Industry and Civil Society Reactions

The plan has received broad support from health advocates and international organizations.

The International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations (IFPMA) and FIFARMA praised the initiative, emphasizing the importance of innovation, vaccines, and partnerships in the fight against NCDs.
Civil society groups such as Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) highlighted the plan’s potential to strengthen tobacco control policies and welcomed the inclusion of cytisine, a cost-effective smoking cessation medicine, in the WHO Essential Medicines List.
Advocates also reminded policymakers to safeguard health regulations from industry interference, referencing WHO’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).

Broader Health Context in the Americas

Noncommunicable diseases have been a long-standing concern for the Americas. According to PAHO, NCDs account for over 80% of all deaths in the region, with cardiovascular diseases leading the list, followed by cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory conditions.

While many countries have implemented smoke-free laws, sugar taxes, and public education campaigns, challenges remain in ensuring access to early diagnosis and long-term care, particularly in low-resource settings.

This is where primary health care becomes crucial. By embedding NCD management into community-level services, patients can receive continuous support for lifestyle changes, medication adherence, and regular monitoring—all of which are key to preventing complications and premature deaths.

The Role of Data and Technology

One of the most promising aspects of the plan is its focus on data modernization. Accurate and timely data allows governments to identify health inequities, track risk behaviors, and measure the impact of interventions.

Digital platforms and mobile health tools are already being tested in several countries to monitor blood pressure, glucose levels, and medication use. By incorporating these innovations into the regional strategy, PAHO hopes to build a smarter, more responsive system for NCD control.

Looking Ahead

The 2025–2030 Action Plan sends a strong message: tackling chronic diseases is not just a health priority—it’s a social and economic necessity. NCDs affect productivity, family income, and the stability of health systems. Without stronger preventive measures, the region faces rising medical costs and widening health inequalities.

By combining policy reforms, community engagement, digital innovation, and regular monitoring, the Americas are taking a major step toward healthier, more resilient societies.

The success of this plan will depend on consistent commitment from all member states, active involvement from civil society, and ongoing public health investment. If implemented effectively, it could serve as a global model for integrated NCD control.

Research Source: PAHO – Plan of Action on Noncommunicable Disease Prevention and Control 2025–2030 (CD62/8)