Progress and challenges in NCD prevention and control in China

Abstract

A BMJ collection highlights the need for an integrated population tailored approach Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes, account for 91% of all deaths in China.1 China accounted for 17.9% of the world population in 2021, but 25.9% of global deaths from NCDs.12 The burden of most NCDs has continued to rise over the past two decades,345 driven mainly by population ageing6 and a failure to fully and effectively tackle major risk factors for NCDs, including use of tobacco and alcohol, physical inactivity, unhealthy diets, and air pollution. A new collection of articles in The BMJ (www.bmj.com/collections/chronic-diseases-in-china) attempts to shed light on the current state and challenges of NCD prevention and control in the context of China’s population ageing, as well as to discuss strategies and approaches to deal with these issues. Over the past two decades, China has implemented several NCD prevention and control programmes, such as morbidity and mortality surveillance, public health intervention programmes,7 and screening for major chronic diseases, primarily through the national basic and major public health service programmes. Among several national health policies, laws, and regulations introduced to improve public health is the prominent Healthy …