Global Experts Outline Key Steps to Help Deliver the UN Commitment for a 25% Reduction in Premature Deaths Through NCDs by 2025

Global Experts Outline Key Steps to Help Deliver the UN Commitment for a 25% Reduction in Premature Deaths Through NCDs by 2025 PR Newswire MONTRÉAL, August 28, 2012 MONTRÉAL, August 28, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Includes call for cancer target inclusion in revision of UN's Millennium Development Goals Cancer control and government experts at the 2012 World Cancer Congress today outlined the priority actions needed to achieve the first United Nations' goal on non-communicable diseases (NCDs); an overall reduction in premature deaths by 25% by 2025. Four NCDs - cancer, heart and cardiovascular, diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases - accounted for 63% of global deaths in 2010, and that number was predicted to grow significantly in the future. NCDs will cause an economic loss of output in low and middle income economies exceeding $7 trillion, a yearly loss equivalent to 4% of annual output in these [1]countries. "The 25 by 25 goal set by the Member States at the World Health Assembly in May represents the single most important landmark decision taken by our generation in the fight against cancer and the other NCDs," said Cary Adams, Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), CEO. "For many years, UICC and its members have argued that the burden of cancer can be reduced, but only with the true engagement of national governments committed to plan, fund and drive a robust national cancer control plan agenda. The 25 by 25 goal now gives this effort purpose and focus.