Strengthening non-communicable diseases monitoring systems in Europe through a multistakeholder collaborative approach: a key priority for advancing data-driven policymaking
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are major drivers of disability, health expenditure, and productivity loss in Europe. Effective surveillance is essential to understand evolving needs, design and evaluate interventions, and ensure accountability. This paper provides a high-level overview of NCD monitoring in Europe, focusing on cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases, and major modifiable risk factors. It draws on three complementary sources: the EU Joint Action on Cardiovascular Diseases and Diabetes (JACARDI, 32 countries), the Joint Action on the Prevention of NCDs (JA PreventNCD, 16 countries), and the WHO NCD Country Capacity Survey (2023, 53 WHO European Region Member States). These sources provide a comprehensive assessment of surveillance capacity, infrastructure and gaps, showing that NCD monitoring remains fragmented, underfunded, and limited in equity-sensitive data and policy integration. Strengthening governance, investment, and cross-country collaboration is crucial to build interoperable, and equity-oriented systems supporting evidence-informed decisions, accountability, and the right to health.
Authors: Benedetta Armocida, Hanna Tolonen, Ivo Rakovac, Beatrice Formenti, Jill Farrington, Allison Ekberg, Hector Bueno, Giovanni Capelli, Silvia Francisci, Morten S. Frydensberg, Ane Fullaondo, Linda Granlund, Yhasmine Hamu Azcarate, Torben F. Hansen, Emil Høstrup, Tomi Mäki-Opas, Luigi Palmieri, Markku Peltonen, Valentina Possenti, Marco Silano, Gundo Weiler, Kremlin Wickramasinghe, Edwin Wouters, Knut-Inge Klepp, Graziano Onder, Gauden Galea
Institutions: Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, Agostino Gemelli University Polyclinic, Spanish National Centre for Cardiovascular Research, Research Institute Hospital 12 de Octubre, Hospital Universitario 12 De Octubre, Osasun Sistemen Ikerketa Institutua, Norwegian Directorate of Health, Vejle Sygehus, Lillebaelt Hospital, University of Eastern Finland, University of Antwerp, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, University of Malta
Language: English
Subfield: Epidemiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $4,930
Funder: European Commission
OpenAlex ID: W4417255347