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Distinguished delegates,

We welcome the updated Appendix 3 of the Global NCD Action Plan, and we also support the statement led by UICC. In particular, we commend the expansion of cost-effectiveness analyses to new interventions, parameters, and country data, which reinforces their investment case.

More specifically, we applaud:

• The changes made to healthy diets interventions with cost-effectiveness analyses, now targeting and specifying unhealthy nutrients beyond salt (sugars, trans-fats, saturated fats); and the call for countries to develop national dietary guidelines and nutrient profile models;
• The changes made to the tobacco control interventions, including specifying the pharmacological interventions recommended for tobacco cessation.

We urge Member States to:

• Support the draft decision adopting the updated Appendix 3 and allowing WHO to regularly update its interventions based on latest data and evidence;
• Resource and integrate NCD prevention and care interventions within Appendix 3 into UHC benefit packages – health promotion and disease prevention are core elements of the continuum of care and, as such, the realization of UHC requires accelerated national implementation of Appendix 3;
• Sensitize all government sectors about the health, social and economic return on investment of these interventions, in line with seeking a well-being economy.

We urge WHO to:

• Establish a clear and inclusive regular update mechanism for Appendix 3 that is protected against undue influence from health-harming industries;
• Shed light on Appendix 3 methodology, including how reference studies are selected;
• Develop guidance on prioritization and the benefits of combining Appendix 3 interventions, and consider interventions to control common NCD co-morbidities;
• Integrate population-wide interventions within Appendix 3 into WHO’s UHC compendium;
• Integrate existing and upcoming policy options on mental health, oral health and air pollution into the NCD response;
• And before its publication, retain the term of ‘best buys’ as a well- recognised and easily understood signal to policymakers.

Thank you.