WIREDGOV

A landmark global alliance between leading scientists and health charities is proposing a five-point plan that could save the lives of 36 million people from non-infectious diseases such as heart disease.

The alliance says that reducing tobacco and salt usage, improving diet and physical activity, reducing hazardous alcohol intake and ensuring universal access to essential drugs and treatments could drastically reduce the number of people dying prematurely across the globe.

Our associate medical director, Dr Mike Knapton, said: “Premature heart disease is largely preventable, and yet millions of people die early from it across the world every year. What we need is simple and focussed activity, just as these recommendations set out.

Premature heart disease is largely preventable, and yet millions of people die early from it across the world every year

“In the UK, we’ve already made great progress but heart disease remains the UK's single biggest killer, so we cannot be complacent. We must redouble our efforts to help people make healthier lifestyle choices and ensure they get the prevention, treatment and care they need.”

The alliance has published their evidence and comment piece online in the Lancet. They hope their findings will be taken on board by the UN High Level Meeting on non-communicable diseases later this year.