Ensuring sustainable financing for cancer, NCDs, and mental health services

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) encompass a range of health conditions that can be a major cause of disability, among which: heart attack, stroke, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, diabetes, and high blood pressure. They account for over 70% of all deaths globally, more than 40 million per year, with 80% of these occurring in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs); the global cost is estimated at USD 2 trillion every year.

According to WHO, nearly one billion people globally were living with a mental disorder in 2019, with anxiety and depression being the most common. An estimated 27% of all people living with cancer experience depression, while up to 10% experience anxiety, regardless of where they are at in their treatment or how extensive the disease is. Not only can these conditions affect a person’s ability to function in daily life, people with mental health conditions often also experience stigma, discrimination, and human rights violations. 

Cary Adams, CEO of UICC, was one of a few civil society representatives invited to attend  the World Bank/WHO Health Financing Dialogue on Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) and Mental Health. This high-level international dialogue, held at the World Bank headquarters in Washington, DC, aimed to identify actionable strategies and policy recommendations to integrate NCDs and mental health responses into public financing and national budgetary systems.

At the event, Cary emphasised the importance of country-owned plans and innovative financing mechanisms. He praised the evidence-based approach of the technical background papers produced for the dialogue, which addressed the role of development assistance and fiscal measures, improving domestic financing, financial protection, how civil society can mobilise resources, and human resources considerations. The papers were particularly transparent in highlighting the gaps in NCD financing and potential policy options.

“Countries have shown remarkable resourcefulness through public-private partnerships and innovative financing approaches. We need to scale these efforts while supporting homegrown initiatives that leverage private and philanthropic funding without overshadowing local efforts.”
– Cary Adams, CEO of UICC

Cary also spoke about the need for catalytic funding to jumpstart local programmes and attract further investment. He pointed to various successful projects initiated by UICC, including the UICC-led Access to Oncology Medicines (ATOM) Coalition, which focuses on mobilising domestic resources and supporting sustainable healthcare solutions in LMICs.

He also advocated for integrating NCD and mental health responses within broader health systems through approaches such as Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and pre-payment schemes.

“Effective health financing should support the entire health system rather than being disease specific. Improved tracking mechanisms, such as health insurance claims and expenditure tracking, are essential for motivating stakeholders and maintaining progress towards financing goals.”
– Cary Adams, CEO of UICC

Cary also noted that a major consideration in releasing funds in LMICs will be addressing the growing burden and cost of sovereign debt in lower income countries, which is at its highest for many years, restricting the ability of many governments to fund the health systems to address the growing burden of NCDs they face. He expressed concern that health issues were not receiving the same attention as climate issues by global lenders – options to delaying debt repayments and swapping debt for country investments in health have to be considered.

The attendees were asked their opinion on what a strong outcome document would look like at the High-Level Meeting (HLM) on NCDs and Mental Health planned for September 2025. All agreed that the previous three HLMs had failed to address the funding challenge of NCDs and this was the perfect opportunity to correct that serious oversight.