Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) now represent the leading cause of death and disability worldwide. They are responsible for about three quarters of fatalities globally, according to the World Health Organization. Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are disproportionately affected, accounting for over three quarters of global NCD-related deaths. Diabetes and hypertension affect 422 million and over a billion people globally, respectively, with cases rising steadily. Despite the high NCD mortality rate in LMICs, the true burden remains underestimated due to under-diagnosis and inadequate data systems.

People living with NCDs such as diabetes and hypertension across LMICs deserve the same access to diagnostics, treatment, and monitoring that people living elsewhere have. Yet, inequities in access make the disparities in health outcomes for people living with NCDs in these countries enormous. While a 10-year-old living with Type 1 diabetes in a high-income country will live to 71, those living in a low-income country will live to only age 23.

As the burden of diabetes, hypertension. and other NCDs increases, so too does the cost of care and commodities—for both individuals paying out-of-pocket and governments trying to manage already overburdened health systems. As a result, vulnerable populations in LMICs face greater health risks, leading to poorer outcomes compared to people in higher-income countries. Urgent action is needed.