Global Status Report on Noncommunicable Diseases 2014 ─ Attaining the Nine Global Noncommunicable Diseases Targets; a Shared Responsibility

This global status report is the second in a triennial series tracking worldwide progress in prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). The majority of NCDs are preventable. This report gives encouraging evidence that premature NCD deaths can indeed be significantly reduced worldwide.

The primary target audience of this report are Ministers of Health. The report provides information on voluntary global targets and how to scale up national efforts to attain them, in a sustainable manner. The 2010 baseline estimates on NCD mortality and risk factors are provided so that countries may begin reporting to WHO on progress made in attaining targets, starting in 2015. The country case studies on successful prevention and control of NCDs highlighted in the report can be instructive for others facing similar challenges. As discussed in this report, there is an agreed set of very cost-effective -- and globally applicable -- NCD interventions for attaining all nine targets by 2025.