Strategic Preparation of Bangladesh for the 2025 UN High-Level Meeting on Noncommunicable Diseases
Dipta Saha:
Non-communicable conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and chronic lung disease are the leading causes of death globally, resulting in 41 million deaths each year accounting for about 71% of all deaths worldwide. Nearly 70% of deaths in Bangladesh are caused by non-communicable diseases (NCDs), placing a heavy burden on the country’s healthcare system and economy. As the world readies itself for the Fourth United Nations High-Level Meeting (UNHLM) on Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) on 25 September 2025, Bangladesh stands at a pivotal moment to show its commitment and advance in the fight against the growing menace of NCDs. This meeting, which took place in the UN General Assembly in New York, aims at rekindling political leadership and supporting an ambitious declaration to intensify efforts towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target of reducing premature death from NCDs by one-third by 2030.
The first HLM in 2011 was a significant event that put the global spotlight on the four main NCDs cancer, cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes that account for 60% of all deaths worldwide. The meeting highlighted in a Political Declaration that recognized NCDs as a major global health threat and called for multisectoral action in a united effort. It led to the WHO Global Action Plan 2013-2020 and the establishment of global mechanisms such as the UN Interagency Taskforce on NCDs. However, the majority of developing countries, such as Bangladesh, struggled to move from political commitment to effective action due to having a lack of technical and financial resources. The second in 2014 was in regard to reviewing progress since 2011 and accelerating implementation. Unlike in 2011, no Heads of State attended; instead, six Health Ministers attended. The document that resulted from this emphasized four time-bound national commitments: the establishment of multisectoral NCD strategies, the establishment of targets, implementation of “best buys” for prevention, and health systems strengthening. The third HLM in 2018 was also the first global review of progress since the endorsement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It brought together 23 Heads of State and 55 Health Ministers, a reflection of heightened political commitment. The meeting produced a short political declaration focused on multisectoral action, universal health coverage, access to quality medicines at an equitable price, and strengthening well-capacitated national health systems to avert one-third of avoidable NCD-related deaths by 2030.
In Bangladesh, the situation is particularly intense, an annual NCDs are attributed to the annual NCDs with an estimated 572,600 deaths, of which 22% are too early. These characters reflect a rapid epidemic infection inspired by long life, urbanization and lifestyle changes such as dilapidated behavior, unhealthy diet and tobacco. Social economic impact is deep: NCDS reduces human capital, reduces the workforce participation and pushes the families to the financial crisis due to high medical costs. A 2019 study estimated that NCD related expenses in Bangladesh annually to increase poverty and inequality to 0.66 million people.
Bangladesh preparation for this important event reflects a mature and multi -layer approach to NCD prevention and control. The Government has already laid a strong basis through its several levels of the prevention and control of non-infectious diseases (2018-2025), which is consistent with global structures and WHO recommendations. The scheme emphasizes a “fully, whole society” approach, provided it requires coordinated action beyond the health sector to address NCD, including policies for tobacco control, diet, physical activity and mental health improvement.
The speed of this preparation is emphasized by infection of epidemiology in Bangladesh, where NCDs such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer and chronic respiratory diseases have become an important cause of disease and mortality. The government’s commitment is clear in the integration of NCD goals within the seventh five -year plan and its adaptation to SDG 3.4, focused on reducing premature NCD deaths. Bangladesh is also a signator for many global units, including WHO’s framework convention on tobacco control and targeting strategies aimed at harmful use of alcohol and unhealthy diets, which are important risk factors for NCDs that are important risk factors for NCDs.
Under the leadership of UNHLM, Bangladesh is actively involved in the global preparation process, including the model’s resolution and multi-stecholder hearing and counseling to shape the political announcement. These early activities ensure that the results of the meeting are capable of action and reflect the realities that countries faced by Bangladesh. Civil society, education and private sector are also collected to advocate for strong obligations and responsibility mechanisms that will support national implementation efforts.
The upcoming political statement is expected to emphasize several large areas for Bangladesh’s context: strengthening management and permanent funding for NCD programs, creating health systems, investing in primary health services and health care, and increasing data collection and monitoring system. These priorities are in line with
WHO recommendations and experiences from previous UNHLMS in 2011, 2014 and 2018, which gradually expanded global reaction to NCDs and integrated mental health and air pollution ideas.
Bangladesh’s strategic preparation also emphasizes the importance of equity and human rights in the NCD policy. To ensure that the weakening of the population has access to quality prevention, treatment and rehabilitation services, reduces health prevention and achieves universal health coverage. The country’s policy includes these principles to promote inclusive and effective NCD interventions. 7
2025 UNHLM represents a rare and important opportunity for Bangladesh to confirm its obligations at international level, attracts more and more technical and financial assistance, and improves more tasks to dampen the NCD epidemic. The success of this meeting will depend on a delegation of Bangladesh’s ability to present evidence -based progress, clarify clear challenges and advocate resources for global solidarity and lower and medium and medium income countries.3
The Road to 2025: A Call to Action
Strengthen Primary Healthcare Systems: With 70% of Bangladeshi people are living in rural areas, primary health services are the backbone of the NCD prevention and management. The access to service and preparedness of the World Health Organization gives the disposition to assess and improve the package with non-infectious (PEN) disease intervention. Bangladesh should invest in training in health workers in society, equip facilities with clinical equipment and integrate mental health services to address co-integrity.
Promote Equity and Integration: The equity focus for HLM4 means that Bangladesh will address inequalities in the treatment of NCDs, especially between rural and poor populations. Integration of NCD service into current models of primary health services, such as WHO lawyer, can receive cost-trained, fair care. Mental health should be prioritized to address the twin challenge to already, physical and mental NCDs.
Finally, Bangladesh preparations for the UN meeting at the high level NCD are a will to its active attitude to addressing one of the most pressured public health challenges of our time. By taking advantage of your multi sectoral action plan, combining with global obligations and complicating different stakeholders, Bangladesh has been designed to pursue the agenda to contribute meaningful to the global discourse and reduce the NCD’s burden for the population.
(Health and Development Officer Eminence Associates for Social Development)
