WHO Warns: $3 Per Person Could Save Millions From NCDs and Mental Illness

The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a stark warning in its latest report, “Saving lives, spending less”, revealing that a modest investment of just US$3 per person per year could dramatically cut premature deaths from noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health conditions while delivering economic benefits of up to US$1 trillion by 2030.

The report comes just days before world leaders convene at the Fourth UN General Assembly High-Level Meeting (HLM4) on NCDs and Mental Health in New York on 25 September 2025, where governments are expected to adopt a new Political Declaration to accelerate global action.

The Heavy Toll of NCDs and Mental Health

NCDs—including cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory illnesses, and diabetes—account for the majority of global deaths. Alongside these, mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression affect over one billion people worldwide.

Each year, 32 million lives are lost prematurely in low- and middle-income countries due to NCDs and mental health conditions, representing nearly three-quarters of the global burden. This dual crisis is eroding not only health systems but also economies, productivity, and social stability.

“Noncommunicable diseases and mental health conditions are silent killers, robbing us of lives and innovation,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “Investing in the fight against NCDs isn’t just smart economics—it’s an urgent necessity for thriving societies.”

Progress Has Slowed Alarmingly

WHO’s analysis of country-level progress between 2010 and 2019 shows mixed results:

• 82% of countries achieved reductions in NCD mortality, yet 60% saw progress slow compared to the previous decade.

• Denmark recorded the most significant gains, followed by notable improvements in China, Egypt, Nigeria, Russia, and Brazil.

• Declines in cardiovascular disease and some cancers, such as stomach and colorectal cancers, drove progress.

• Conversely, mortality from pancreatic and liver cancers and neurological conditions rose in many countries.

Without renewed action, WHO warns millions more will die prematurely, undermining Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets for 2030.

Solutions Are Affordable and Effective

WHO’s report stresses that solutions are highly cost-effective and already well-known. Scaling up its package of evidence-based interventions, known as “Best Buys”, would require an additional US$3 per person per year on average. These measures include:

• Taxing tobacco, alcohol, and sugary drinks to discourage harmful consumption and raise health revenues.

• Protecting children from harmful marketing of ultra-processed foods and addictive products.

• Managing hypertension through primary care.

• Expanding cervical cancer screening and early detection services.

• Improving access to essential medicines and technologies.

If fully implemented, these interventions could by 2030:

• Save 12 million lives.

• Prevent 28 million heart attacks and strokes.

• Add 150 million healthy life years.

• Generate over US$1 trillion in economic benefits.

Political Will Versus Industry Lobbying

Despite the affordability of solutions, WHO cautions that industry interference remains a major obstacle. Powerful commercial actors—especially in the tobacco, alcohol, and processed food industries—regularly seek to block, weaken, or delay life-saving regulations.

“It is unacceptable that commercial interests are profiting from increasing deaths and disease,” said Dr Etienne Krug, Director of WHO’s Department of Health Determinants, Promotion and Prevention. “Governments must put people before profits and ensure evidence-based policy is not derailed by corporate pressure.”

The Urgency of HLM4

The upcoming HLM4 in New York is being described as the most significant political opportunity of the decade to shift course on NCDs and mental health. World leaders are expected to adopt a bold Political Declaration that recommits to the 2030 targets while laying a vision for longer-term action.

Dr Devora Kestel, Director of WHO’s Department for NCDs and Mental Health, underscored the stakes: “We know what works. The time to act is now. Governments that act decisively will protect and save lives, cut costs, and unlock growth. Those that delay will pay in lost lives and weaker economies.”

A Call to Action

WHO is urging countries to:

• Prioritize funding and implementation of Best Buys, tailored to national needs.

• Strengthen primary health care to provide prevention, early detection, and treatment.

• Secure financing through domestic budgets, health taxes, and targeted aid.

• Set bold national targets with strong accountability frameworks.

• Stop industry interference in public health policy.

Charting a Healthier Future

For WHO, the path is clear: US$3 per person annually is a small investment compared to the immense human and economic costs of inaction. With political will and global solidarity, the world could avert millions of premature deaths, improve mental well-being, and set a new foundation for health-driven sustainable development.