IFPA calls on all UN Member States to take decisive action at the High-Level Meeting of the UN General Assembly on NCDs and Mental Health

Today, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) will hold an interactive, multi-stakeholder hearing on non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The hearing will take place as part of the preparatory process for the Fourth High-Level Meeting of the UNGA on NCDs and the Promotion of Mental Health and Well-being, which will convene in September 2025.

The negotiation process leading up to the Fourth High-Level Meeting in September is a unique chance for Member States to renew their commitments to advance the fight against psoriatic disease, which affects 60 million people worldwide.

In 2014, all UN Member States recognized psoriasis as an NCD and committed to improving the lives of people living with it. Practical recommendations on how to achieve this ambitious goal were published in the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Report on Psoriasis in 2016. The report called for comprehensive care of psoriatic disease that considers screening and prevention of comorbidities, as well as mental health support.

More than 10 years after these community milestones, much is left to be done.

Psoriatic disease is an NCD with major impact on mental health.

Psoriatic disease is a systemic condition affecting multiple body sites, predominantly the skin, the joints, or both. In addition to skin and joint symptoms, psoriatic disease is characterized by an increased risk of developing related non-communicable diseases and has a major impact on mental health and quality of life. The most common comorbidities are obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes (collectively referred to as metabolic syndrome), cardiovascular disease, and inflammatory bowel disease.

Furthermore, psoriatic disease is an immune-mediated disease in which chronic inflammation causes damage in multiple body sites and may contribute to depression. In fact, 1 in 10 people with psoriatic disease is diagnosed with depression worldwide. Forty-eight percent of people with psoriatic disease experience anxiety. Eighty-one percent report that the disease has an impact on their relationships. Ninety percent of family members report that psoriatic disease affects their own quality of life and well-being.

The time to act is now!

Achieving optimal management of complex conditions like psoriatic disease requires a shift in mindset, as well as in how health systems operate. The fragmentation of care and a disease-centred approach are not suitable for managing an ageing population often living with non-communicable diseases. People suffering from multiple chronic conditions require a person-centred, integrated model of care focused not on health conditions, but on individuals and their health goals. Access to person-centred and holistic care should be viewed by Member States as a human right.

Psoriatic disease is incurable; however, the skin and joint symptoms can be effectively managed with medications. Moreover, access to affordable, safe, effective, and quality medicines prevents the emergence of related NCDs.

All people living with psoriatic disease have a right to equal access to the best care and treatments, wherever they live. The time for Member States to act is now!

IFPA aligns with the Call to Lead on NCDs, outlining three key actions governments must take:

1. Mobilize investment
   By increasing sustainable funding for health that includes specific and measurable financing targets for NCD strategies and maximizes the win-win from health taxes and other fiscal measures.
2. Accelerate implementation
   By delivering proven, cost-effective policies to reduce NCD risk factor exposure, integrating quality NCD interventions into person-centred care and universal health coverage benefit packages, and expanding access to essential NCD medicines, technologies, and resources.
3. Deliver accountability
   By regularly monitoring and reporting to citizens and the global community on an updated set of NCD targets extended to 2030 and beyond; and by integrating NCD commitments into the post-SDG agenda.