About us

The Noncommunicable Disease (NCD) Management Unit works to close the gap between the eastern and western parts of the WHO European Region in cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases and oral diseases.

The Unit facilitates the delivery of policy recommendations, provides training and supports capacity-building across the continuum of care to facilitate the implementation of priority interventions. It provides advice to Member States on improving service delivery models as part of health systems strengthening, people-centred health care and universal health coverage.

Through collaboration with flagships, experts from Member States, regional specialized agencies of the United Nations, professional associations, patient associations, WHO collaborating centres and academic networks, the Unit steers novel approaches for implementing NCD initiatives. It facilitates the uptake and appropriate transfer of evidence-based knowledge and best practices among Member States to provide strategic direction, technical assistance and tailored support to countries in:

• developing and implementing NCD plans
• building quality-assured screening programmes
• combining evidence and expertise to build country capacities
• increasing compliance with care standards
• working cross-programmatically to improve access to quality and innovative medicines.