19 Sep 2025: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and chronic lung disease are now the world’s leading killers, responsible for nearly 74% of global deaths each year. To fight this growing crisis, the World Health Organization (WHO) has released a set of practical, cost-effective interventions called “Best Buys”—strategies that countries can adopt to save lives with relatively small investments.
The Rising Threat of NCDs
According to WHO data, over 41 million people die annually from NCDs, many of them under the age of 70. Unlike infectious diseases, which spread from person to person, NCDs are largely driven by lifestyle and environmental factors such as tobacco use, unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, and alcohol abuse.
In developing countries like India, the burden of NCDs is especially heavy, as healthcare systems often face challenges in early detection and treatment. WHO officials emphasize that prevention and early action are far more cost-effective than late-stage treatment.
What Are WHO’s “Best Buys”?
The term “Best Buys” refers to interventions that are both affordable and highly effective in reducing the impact of NCDs. According to WHO, these measures can be implemented even in low- and middle-income countries without requiring huge budgets.
Some of the key Best Buys include:
- Tobacco Control – Raising taxes on cigarettes, banning advertising, and enforcing smoke-free public spaces.
- Reducing Salt Intake – Encouraging food companies to lower salt content in packaged products and running public awareness campaigns about healthier diets.
- Promoting Physical Activity – Creating safe public spaces for exercise and promoting active lifestyles in schools and workplaces.
- Alcohol Regulation – Increasing taxes on alcohol, setting age restrictions, and limiting marketing to young audiences.
- Vaccination and Screening – HPV vaccination for cervical cancer prevention, hepatitis vaccines to prevent liver cancer, and simple screenings for blood pressure and diabetes.
WHO notes that these steps not only save lives but also save money. For every $1 invested in Best Buys, countries can save nearly $7 in healthcare costs and productivity losses.
Global Impact
Countries that have adopted Best Buys are already seeing positive results. For example:
- Brazil significantly reduced smoking rates by raising tobacco taxes and banning advertising.
- Finland cut down cardiovascular deaths by encouraging lower salt consumption in processed foods.
- Thailand introduced strong alcohol regulations, which helped reduce traffic accidents linked to drinking.
India’s NCD Challenge
India reports more than 6 million NCD-related deaths each year. Hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease are rising rapidly, especially in urban areas where diets are high in processed foods and sedentary lifestyles are common.
Public health experts in India argue that adopting WHO’s Best Buys—such as stronger anti-tobacco campaigns, widespread screening for high blood pressure, and nutrition education in schools—could prevent millions of premature deaths in the coming decade.
Expert View
Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, former Chief Scientist at WHO, explained:
“NCDs are preventable to a large extent. Simple policy changes like making healthy food affordable, discouraging smoking, and promoting regular exercise can transform public health outcomes.”
She added that young people, in particular, need to be targeted with awareness campaigns to build lifelong healthy habits.
The Road Ahead
WHO stresses that governments, schools, businesses, and individuals all have a role to play. While governments can pass health-friendly policies, communities can encourage walking, cycling, and healthier food choices. For individuals, small changes—like reducing salt, drinking more water instead of sugary drinks, and staying active—can make a big difference.
The organization also highlights the importance of early detection. Routine screenings for hypertension, blood sugar, and certain cancers are essential to catching diseases before they progress to dangerous stages.
Conclusion
Non-communicable diseases may be the biggest health challenge of our time, but WHO’s Best Buys show that affordable, small steps can have a big impact. By combining policy action, public awareness, and individual lifestyle changes, millions of lives can be saved worldwide.
Summary
WHO’s “Best Buys” highlight cost-effective ways to reduce non-communicable diseases globally, from tobacco control to healthy diets. Small steps like salt reduction and screenings can prevent millions of premature deaths.