Chronic disease treatment warning

Many countries are falling behind on global commitments to tackle premature deaths from chronic diseases, such as diabetes, lung cancer and heart disease, new research indicates.

Experts say the risk of dying prematurely from preventable and largely treatable chronic diseases such as stroke, heart disease, and stomach cancer has declined steadily over the past decade.

But they indicate that death rates from other chronic diseases such as l ung cancer, colon cancer and liver cancer are declining too slowly or worsening in many countries.

According to the study, published in The Lancet, a number of countries are falling short or behind on their commitments to reducing premature mortality from chronic diseases, or non- communicable diseases ( NCDS).

Among high- income countries, only Denmark, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Norway,

Singapore, and South Korea are on track to meet the sustainable development goals ( SDG) t arget f or both men and women if they maintain or surpass their recent rates of progress.

The findings come as part of the second edition of the NCD Countdown 2030 report, ahead of the Global Week of Action on NCDS next week.

Researchers say NCDS currently kill more than 40 million people a year worldwide, making up seven out of 10 deaths globally.