Remarks on promoting citizen-centred noncommunicable disease and mental health policies in the global community: Japan’s leadership and contribution in Asia and globally

Ohayo gozaimasu, good morning. It is a true honour to join you today in this important dialogue hosted by the Health and Global Policy Institute (HGPI), the NCD Alliance and the Permanent Mission of Japan - a country whose leadership in health continues to inspire us all.

This conversation couldn't be more timely. We are living in an era where multi-lateralism is under strain, and the ripple effects are being felt across global public health.

Just this week in New York, we witnessed the High-level meeting on noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). It was meant to deliver a bold political declaration.

But let's be candid: the final outcome fell short of expectations. And that has real consequences for our global momentum on NCDs.

We all know that NCDs are the leading cause of death worldwide. Over a billion people live with mental health conditions.

Tragically, nearly 75% of these deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries - 32 million lives lost every year.

In the Western Pacific alone, 38 countries and areas face this crisis. NCDs account for over 12 million deaths annually - more than a third of the global total.

Progress toward Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.4 - our benchmark for NCD success - is uneven. In our Region, the risk of dying prematurely from NCDs between ages 30 and 70 ranges from 10% to nearly 50%.

These disparities demand tailored strategies and urgent action.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified cost-effective interventions - our "best buys". These include:

a. Raising taxes on tobacco, alcohol, and unhealthy products;

b. Restricting marketing and improving labelling; and

c. Promoting healthy diets and physical activity.

We've seen these work:

a. The Philippines' 2012 Sin Tax Reform boosted health outcomes and funded universal health coverage.

b. Fiji and Tonga introduced taxes on sugary drinks - leading to measurable drops in consumption.

Yet, implementation lags in many countries. Tobacco taxation is weak, alcohol controls are limited, and food marketing remains largely unchecked.

The industries behind these products are relentless. Every step forward is met with fierce resistance - often supported by those in power. The result? Millions of preventable deaths and overwhelmed health systems.

Adding complexity is the rapid ageing of populations across Asia-Pacific and beyond.

Ageing is a triumph of development - a testament to our public health successes. It is also a chance to harness the wisdom and contributions of older adults to enrich our societies.

But to seize this opportunity, we must tackle the health challenges that come with ageing - especially NCDs.

That means, what my good friend Dr Satoshi has mentioned, shifting our health systems toward prevention and community-based care. Keeping people healthy, making services available and accessible, and environments supportive across the life course.

Japan exemplifies this. With the world's longest life expectancy, it has fewer deaths from heart disease and cancer, low obesity rates, and declining tobacco use.

This success stems from decades of investment in health promotion - like the Health Japan 21 initiative, which set national goals for nutrition, exercise and tobacco control.

These efforts support Japan's universal health coverage, reducing disease burden and sustaining the system.

In Japan, turning 70 today is like turning 60 fifteen years ago - thanks to better health and active participation in society.

I'm proud to share that after leaving New York tomorrow morning, I'll travel to Japan to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Kanagawa Prefecture - home to Yokohama - to collaborate on healthy ageing and NCDs through a life-cycle approach.

Friends and colleagues, health is a political choice. We need bold leadership - like Japan's - to drive the policies and investments that truly make a difference.

WHO's new global report, 'Saving Lives, Spending Less', shows that scaling up our best buys would cost just US$ 3 per person per year.

The return? By 2030, we could save 12 million lives, prevent 28 million heart attacks and strokes, add 150 million healthy life years, and generate over US$ 1 trillion in economic benefits.

The message is clear: tackling NCDs is not just a health issue - it is a development imperative.

Investing in NCDs boosts economies, reduces poverty, and strengthens resilience. It improves lives, productivity and sustainability.

Yes, the challenges are daunting. But I believe in our collective strength.

As the Japanese proverb says, 七転び八起き - Nanakorobi yaoki: Fall down seven times, get up eight.

Let us keep going. Let's keep rising. Together, we will succeed.