WHO EMRO | Noncommunicable diseases {loadposition annualreport2015} Regional framework for action Despite declared political commitment to implement the Political Declaration of the High-Level Meeting of the United Nations General Assembly on the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases, many countries

Despite declared political commitment to implement the Political Declaration of the High-Level Meeting of the United Nations General Assembly on the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases, many countries are experiencing challenges in moving to concrete action. The response to the 2011 UN political declaration and to the regional framework for action which was endorsed by the Regional Committee in 2012 has been patchy and uneven. Factors responsible for this situation vary from one country to another but generally include inadequate political commitment at the highest level, competing priorities particularly in crisis-stricken countries, weak engagement of non-health sectors whose action is essential in the implementation of key measures, weak health systems including fragmented health information systems, opposing forces including the tobacco industry and the unopposed marketing of unhealthy foods, and the absence of an effective civil society movement.