World leaders meeting on 16 December 2025 at the 8th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) have adopted a historic political declaration to accelerate global action on noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health, marking a major step forward for health equity worldwide.
Titled “Equity and integration: transforming lives and livelihoods through leadership and action on noncommunicable diseases and the promotion of mental health and well-being”, the declaration is the first UN political agreement to address NCDs and mental health together. It establishes a shared vision for accelerating progress towards 2030, with a strong emphasis on inclusion, prevention, and access to care.
This marks a significant milestone also for rare diseases. In fact, the declaration acknowledges that rare diseases, alongside conditions such as childhood cancer, kidney disease and liver disease, must be part of broader NCD strategies rather than treated in isolation.
NCDs remain the leading cause of premature death worldwide, accounting for an estimated 18 million early deaths each year. At the same time, over one billion people live with mental health conditions. These challenges affect people of all ages and income levels and are increasing in every country. Many NCDs are linked to preventable risk factors, including unhealthy diets, tobacco and alcohol use, physical inactivity, air pollution and environmental exposure. These factors also have a profound impact on mental health and on people living with rare and complex conditions.
A key innovation of the declaration is the introduction of three global “fast-track” outcome targets to be achieved by 2030:
- 150 million fewer tobacco users worldwide
- 150 million more people with hypertension under control
- 150 million more people with access to mental health care
In addition, governments committed to measurable system-level targets, including stronger national policies, improved access to essential medicines and technologies, financial protection for patients.
The declaration also integrates lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic and responds to emerging global risks, including in its scope:
- Rare diseases and neglected conditions, alongside more prevalent NCDs
- Environmental determinants of health, such as air pollution and hazardous chemicals
- Digital and social risks, including harmful online content, excessive screen time and health misinformation
Recognising the current global economic pressures, the declaration places renewed emphasis on sustainable health financing, calling for increased domestic investment and international cooperation.
Crucially, it underlines the importance of a whole society approach, engaging civil society organisations, patient groups, people with lived experience, youth, persons with disabilities and communities affected by health inequities, including those living with rare diseases.
Read the full document here.