Taking on the challenge of noncommunicable diseases: we all hold a piece of the puzzle

Two out of 3 deaths globally are attributable to noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), with 80% occurring in low-resource countries. The "cost of inaction" is estimated to be US$35 trillion between 2005 and 2030. We need to get behind the societal root causes of this global health challenge; we need a life-course approach to respond to the increasing evidence of intergenerational transmission of NCDs; and we need to focus on strengthening of health systems and integration of services for prevention, screening, and management across disease groups. There is a growing understanding that all actors, private or public, for-profit or not-for-profit, can make substantial and positive contributions as long as they maintain transparency in their agenda, motivation, and actions. Effective and sustainable global public-private partnerships require trust between partners, a safe space for talks and negotiations, and a framework for governance and accountability. We need a neutral global convener to unite us all behind shared visions for a healthier future, where each player is encouraged to commit and contribute to the common cause and be recognized or held accountable for their respective commitments. Creation of such a platform could be a direct outcome of the United Nations High Level Meeting on NCDs to be held in September 2011.