Oral health gains global recognition at UN NCD summit
NEW YORK: The Fourth High‑Level Meeting of the United Nations General Assembly on the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases and the Promotion of Mental Health and Well‑being (HLM4) convened recently in New York, USA, and for the first time explicitly included oral health in its Political Declaration — a landmark achievement for the global dental community.
A key outcome of HLM4 is the “Political Declaration of the Fourth High-Level Meeting …” published by the World Health Organization (WHO) which affirms that “oral diseases are a major health and economic burden in many countries … and that untreated dental caries … is among the most common health conditions.”
Historic recognition of oral health
The advocacy efforts by the Fédération Dentaire Internationale (FDI) and the International Association for Dental, Oral and Craniofacial Research (IADR), supported by national dental associations and other stakeholders, succeeded in securing mentions of oral health within both the preambular and operative sections of the Declaration — after the initial Zero Draft made no reference to oral diseases.
Key policy commitments and targets
Among the fast-track targets adopted in the Political Declaration are:
- 150 million fewer tobacco users by 2030
- 150 million more people with controlled hypertension
- 150 million more people with access to mental health care
The Declaration also advances actions on regulating novel tobacco products, marketing restrictions on unhealthy foods to children, implementation of front-of-pack nutrition labelling and the elimination of industrially-produced trans-fats. While these measures are ambitious, critics argue some commitments were diluted compared with earlier drafts.
Implications for the oral health agenda
- The explicit inclusion of oral diseases in a major NCD/mental-health declaration elevates dental health from a siloed specialty to a core component of global health policy.
- Countries now have a stronger policy basis for integrating oral health into national NCD prevention frameworks, primary health care services and multi-sectoral strategies.
- National dental associations and health ministries should leverage this momentum to strengthen oral-health governance, financing, and multisectoral engagement.
On the road ahead
Much work remains to translate political recognition into tangible action. Key next steps include:
- Ensuring national oral-health policies align with the Declaration and build meaningful links to NCDs and mental-health efforts.
- Monitoring and accountability mechanisms to ensure that the commitments are implemented, especially for underserved populations.
- Civil-society, research and advocacy groups maintaining momentum to avoid regression and to safeguard against commercial-determinant interference.
The inclusion of oral health in HLM4’s Declaration marks a significant turning point. For the global dental community, this milestone offers both validation and responsibility: recognition is only the first step — the real measure will be improved access, prevention and outcomes for millions worldwide.
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