WHO Director-General's remarks at the Strategic Roundtable: It takes a village: an integrated and intersectoral response to noncommunicable diseases and mental health – 20 May 2026

Excellencies, Honourable Ministers, dear colleagues and friends,

Noncommunicable diseases and mental health conditions account for 80% of all deaths globally, and represent seven of the top ten causes of death.

They're also a leading cause of morbidity and disability, and they put a huge burden on health systems - both operationally and economically.

They are deeply interconnected, driven by shared risk factors and determinants, and increasingly affecting people throughout life.

Yet the global response remains too fragmented - by disease, by sector, and by level of care.

These challenges are not abstract. They represent lives cut short, families under strain, and communities held back.

But NCDs and mental health conditions are also largely preventable and treatable. We have the knowledge and the tools.

What we need is faster, more coherent, and more ambitious implementation.

Addressing NCDs and mental health cannot be achieved by the health sector alone.

It requires leadership across government and across sectors, with meaningful engagement with communities, civil society, and people with lived experience.

Integration is a political choice and a prerequisite for more equitable, resilient, and people-centered health systems.

The Political Declaration adopted by the UN General Assembly last year is the most ambitious yet, with concrete targets on tobacco, hypertension, and mental health.

It puts a strong focus on actions that improve lives - hrough primary health care, prevention, financial protection, and equitable delivery systems.

Our focus today is not on what to do - but on how to move faster and deliver:

How to drive coordinated action across sectors;

How to strengthen primary health care;

And how to tackle determinants of health.

After all, health is created not only in clinics, but also in homes, schools, workplaces and communities.

Strong connections - between people, sectors and institutions - are essential to building healthier and more resilient societies.

WHO stands ready to support Member States with evidence, norms, technical assistance and partnerships.

But progress will depend on collective action and sustained political commitment.

As we approach 2030, the task is urgent and the path is clear.

Our shared responsibility is now to deliver - with urgency, equity and accountability.

In today's discussion, I ask you to be candid, practical and forward-looking.

The challenge is huge, but so is the opportunity to promote health, prevent disease and save lives.

I thank you.