Rethinking NCD and
mental health financing
for equity and impact

ABOUT THE EVENT

Noncommunicable diseases, or NCDs — such as cardiovascular, renal and metabolic diseases, cancer, chronic respiratory illness, and mental health conditions — account for over 70% of global deaths, with more than three-quarters of these occurring in low- and middle-income countries, or LMICs. Despite these staggering numbers and an economic toll projected to exceed $47 trillion globally by 2030, NCDs remain severely underfunded, receiving only around 1%-2% of total health funding.

While many countries have made meaningful progress in expanding health coverage and integrating NCD care into national strategies, limited fiscal space, competing health priorities, and external shocks — from conflict and economic instability to climate impacts and pandemics — have strained public health budgets. The challenge is not only one of resources but also of structural design: Financing mechanisms must be resilient, equitable, and better aligned with long-term health system strengthening.

To accelerate progress on NCD prevention and care, there is an urgent need for financing approaches that unite governments, donors, the private sector, and civil society in a shared agenda. This workshop will explore how partners can move from commitments to action by rethinking NCD and mental health financing strategies for resilience, equity, and impact, with a view to implementing the political declaration of the fourth high-level meeting of the U.N. General Assembly on NCDs and mental health political declaration across diverse country contexts.