Experts from WHO Europe, JA Prevent and JACARDI gathered for a joint event

Data has the power to save lives

Many passionate voices came together on September 10th in Brussels to address the pressing challenges of preventing and controlling noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). The event, Strengthening NCD Monitoring Systems in the EU: A Collaborative Approach, brought together representatives from WHO Europe, JA Prevent, JACARDI, and several Member States. Their shared insights and best practices sparked crucial discussions, setting the stage for a more coordinated and impactful approach to NCD monitoring.

“Iremember the excitement of the political cadre before the 2011 high-level UN meeting on NCDs” – reflected Dr. Galea Gauden, strategic advisor to the WHO Regional Director for Europe just one year before the next UN high-level meeting 2025. At that time, momentum had been building, but new data show that COVID-19 pandemic derailed Europe’s progress toward achieving NCD targets, as Dr. Ivo Rakovac, WHO’s regional advisor on NCD surveillance highlighted. This setback has had a profound impact on societies, families, and communities and EU countries are still lagging behind in target setting and health examination surveys. Despite the available science and research, demonstrating the success of NCD prevention programs and gaining political support remains a significant challenge.

The way we can fight this challenge, is to bring together and share all recent data on NCD prevention and intervention and turn them into a tool for advocacy. Data-driven policies are essential for combating noncommunicable diseases, the biggest health threat in our region. This event marked an essential first step in coordinating efforts across participating organisations, each showcasing their objectives and achievements. For JACARDI, partnerships with WHO Europe and JA Prevent are vital, as collaboration is key to amplifying our collective impact. As of 2023, only 48% of countries in the WHO European region have fully implemented recommended NCD policies and capacities in key areas such as surveillance and governance, tobacco control, alcohol control, unhealthy diet reduction, physical activity promotion and NCD management in health systems. At the event, frontrunners like Norway, Spain, Estonia and Denmark shared success stories, while Germany, Finland, and Italy offered best practices in NCD monitoring. One of the event’s highlights was an innovative closing session led by Dr. Gauden, where participants contributed to drafting a joint political declaration. Using an AI tool, he summarised the most frequently cited ideas, leading to the following key takeaways:

Data and Monitoring
We should harmonise data collection methods, ensuring the availability and usability of health data. By interconnecting monitoring systems for NCDs, risk factors, and determinants, we will enable more effective decision-making, policy advocacy, and targeted interventions for NCD prevention.

Political Commitment and Accountability
We recognise the need for enhanced political will to address NCDs with evidence-based interventions and clear accountability. Governments must take ownership, set clear targets, and resist industry pressures, prioritising public health over economic interests.

Prevention and Health Promotion
Preventive measures and health promotion are central to reducing the NCD burden. This includes integrating health literacy into education, launching national awareness programs, and creating environments where healthy choices are normalised and accessible. Using a common methodology for implementing and assessing pilot projects can reduce the risk of failure and enable a thorough analysis of the results. 
For this reason, all 142 JACARDI pilot projects follow a common structure and timeline, with working methods based on the concepts of ‘grassroots innovation’ and implementation science.