WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
ORGANISATION MONDIALE DE LA SANTÉ
WELTGESUNDHEITSORGANISATION
ВСЕМИРНАЯ ОРГАНИЗАЦИЯ
ЗДРАВООХРАНЕНИЯ Date: 17 April 2024
REGIONAL OFFICE FOR EUROPE Ms Helen Sõber
BUREAU RÉGIONAL DE L’EUROPE
REGIONALBÜRO FÜR EUROPA Adviser
ЕВРОПЕЙСКОЕ РЕГИОНАЛЬНОЕ БЮРО
European Union Affairs and International Co-
Head office: operation Department
UN City, Marmorvej 51, Ministry of Social Affairs
DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
Tel.: +45 45 33 70 00; Fax: +45 45 33 70 01
Suur-Ameerika 1 Tallinn 10122
Email:
[email protected] Estonia
Website: http://www.euro.who.int
Our WHO/SNI-04- Your
reference: 2024 reference:
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Dear Ms Sõber,
WHO European Forum on Commercial Determinants of NCDs
Brussels, Belgium, 12 June 2024
I am writing to inform you about the upcoming WHO European Forum on Commercial
Determinants of NCDs (noncommunicable diseases), scheduled to take place on 12 June 2024 in
Brussels, Belgium. This forum is being hosted by the Ministry of Health Belgium. During the
forum, a new WHO publication on the commercial determinants of NCDs in the WHO European
Region will be presented. It aims to highlight facts about the commercial determinants of NCDs,
and the strategies and techniques used by commercial actors to delay and weaken NCD-related
policies. Furthermore, it proposes policy considerations to better protect the development or
implementation of NCD policies from the impacts of industry interference.
As part of the event, we invite Member States, leading topic experts, and representatives of civil
society to reflect on their experiences with industry involvement in NCD-related policies. The
forum should offer a platform for stakeholders to address this pressing public health challenge.
To ensure comprehensive representation from your country, we kindly request that you nominate
two delegates to participate in the forum. We particularly encourage the participation of one
delegate with expertise in NCD-related policies and another delegate with expertise in conflict of
interest and health policies. Please provide us with the names, official positions and titles, and email
addresses of the proposed participants at your earliest convenience. For your reference, a scope and
purpose document has been attached.
The working language for the event will be English with simultaneous interpretation in Russian. To
facilitate the nomination process, we kindly request that your response is addressed to Ms Kathrin
Hetz (
[email protected]) with a copy to Ms Elvira Kusenova (
[email protected]). The nominated
delegates will receive the WHO report prior to the meeting to review the draft and to share
feedback. Therefore, we would appreciate receiving your country’s nominations no later than 30
April 2024.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. We look forward to your active participation in this
important event
Sincerely yours,
Dr Gauden Galea,
Special Adviser to the Regional Director on NCDs and Innovation
Encl.:
Scope and purpose
Copy for information to:
Ms Triin Uusberg, Head, European Union Affairs and International Co-operation Department, Ministry of
Social Affairs, Suur-Ameerika 1 Tallinn 10129, Estonia
H.E. Ms Riia Salsa-Audiffren, Ambassador Representative of the Republic of Estonia, Permanent Mission of
the Republic of Estonia to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva,
Chemin du Petit-Saconnex 28A Genève CH-1209, Switzerland
H.E. Mr William Mart Laanemäe, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Embassy of the Republic
of Estonia, Frederiksgade 19, 4th floor Copenhagen K 1265, Denmark
Ms Kristina Köhler, Liaison Officer, WHO Country Office, Paldiski Road 81 Tallinn 10617,Estonia
–2–
WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION ORGANISATION MONDIALE DE LA SANTÉ
REGIONAL OFFICE FOR EUROPE BUREAU RÉGIONAL DE L'EUROPE
WELTGESUNDHEITSORGANISATION ВСЕМИРНАЯ ОРГАНИЗАЦИЯ ЗДРАВООХРАНЕНИЯ
REGIONALBÜRO FÜR EUROPA ЕВРОПЕЙСКОЕ РЕГИОНАЛЬНОЕ БЮРО
WHO European Forum on Commercial /1
Determinants of NCDs
La Maison de la Poste, Brussels, Belgium 22 March 2024
12 June 2024 Original: English
Scope and Purpose
As the Fourth UN High-level Meeting of the General Assembly on the Prevention and Control of
Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) in September 2025 draws near, it becomes evident that many
countries in the WHO European Region are not on track to meet the targets set by the NCD Global
Monitoring Framework. These targets, which align with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)
Target 3.4, aim to reduce premature mortality from NCDs by one third through prevention and
treatment, while also promoting mental health and well-being.
Within the Region, NCDs emerge as the predominant cause of mortality, a substantial portion of
which is preventable. To mitigate the NCD burden and enhance population health, WHO has
introduced the NCD Best Buys – a collection of cost-effective policy interventions. Despite their
potential to save lives, the implementation of these recommendations remains inconsistent across
WHO Member States. Industry opposition is one of the main barriers undermining the
implementation of NCD-related policies. Such resistance benefits only a select few through
commercial profits while jeopardizing the health of millions. To accelerate progress leading up to
the UN High-level Meeting on NCDs, the WHO Regional Office for Europe has strengthened
technical support for Member States to address the commercial determinants of NCDs.
In response, the Regional Office is dedicated to collaborating with Member States and key
stakeholders to support the implementation of effective NCD prevention strategies.
The Special Initiative on Noncommunicable Diseases and Innovation has compiled a report
detailing the tactics used by commercial actors to obstruct NCD policy implementation. This report
aims to highlight corporate interference strategies and will be presented at the WHO European
Forum on Commercial Determinants of NCDs.
The forum's primary objectives include:
raising awareness of the strategies employed by commercial entities to impede NCD-
related policies;
discussing the most effective approaches to engage policy-makers in the commercial
determinants of NCDs; and
strategizing on how to better shield the public health community from commercial
interference.
This initiative underscores the Regional Office’s commitment to fostering healthier environments
and reducing the prevalence of NCDs across the Region.
Saatja: "EURO Nutrition" <
[email protected]>
Saaja: "Helen Sõber"
Teema: Nomination letter: WHO European Forum on Commercial Determinants of NCDs, Brussels, Belgium, 12 June 2024
Kuupäev: 2024-04-19 06:29
Message sent on behalf of Dr Gauden Galea, Special Adviser to the Regional
Director on NCDs and Innovation.
Dear Ms Sõber,
Please find attached the Nomination Letter and Scope and Purpose for your
kind attention.
Sincerely yours,
Special Initiative on NCDs and Innovation
WHO Regional Office for Europe