The latest UN assessment of global progress on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and the WHO Europe European Health Report 2024 reveal that progress to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.4, reducing premature mortality from NCDs by one-third by 2030, have stalled. We have the tools, resources, and knowledge to turn the tide on NCDs, yet action by Member States (MS) remains to be insufficient. Policymakers tend to prioritise initiatives that yield visible results within their political term, and the misconception that NCD interventions take a long time to show impact reinforces inaction. Against this backdrop, WHO Europe has launched its ‘quick buys’, outlining cost-effective interventions proven to deliver measurable public health benefits within five years. By framing action within the average European political term timeframe, this initiative provides policymakers with a list of effective measures that provide measurable change within their tenure and before the 2030 SDG deadline.
What ‘quick buys’ have been identified for diabetes and its risk factors?
The selection of ‘quick buys’ was based on an analysis of 49 interventions targeting the four major NCD groups – diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease and cancer, as well as key risk factors, including tobacco and alcohol use, unhealthy diets, and physical inactivity. Of these, 25 interventions were identified as having the potential to yield a measurable public health impact within five years. The ‘quick buys’ directly relating to diabetes are:
- Glycaemic control for people with diabetes, along with standard home glucose monitoring for people treated with insulin to reduce diabetes complications – immediate effect
- Screening of people living with diabetes (PwD) for albuminuria and treatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor for the prevention and delay of renal disease – >4.5 years
- Control of blood pressure in PwD – 12 months
- Statin use in PwD >40 years old – immediate effect
The ‘quick buys’ concerning major risk factors for Type 2 Diabetes (T2D), namely unhealthy diet and physical inactivity, include:
- Reformulation policies for healthier food and beverage products (e.g., elimination of trans-fatty acids and/or reduction of saturated fats, free sugars and/or sodium) – 1 year
- Front-of-pack labelling as part of comprehensive nutrition labelling policies for facilitating consumers’ understanding and choice of food for healthy diets – immediate effect
- Behaviour change communication and mass media campaigns for healthy diets (e.g., to reduce the intake of energy, free sugars, sodium and unhealthy fats, and to increase the consumption of legumes, whole grains, fruit and vegetables) – 3 years
- Brief counselling intervention on physical activity in primary health care – 4 weeks
‘Quick buys’ but not necessarily ‘quick wins’
Both at the launch event and in the paper, it was emphasised that ‘quick buys’ should not be mistaken for ‘quick wins’. These actions are not necessarily easy to implement. While some interventions, such as those targeting key NCD risk factors or the use of statins for diabetes, are relatively straightforward, others, like glycaemic control, are far more complex.
Managing diabetes is relentless and multifaceted, with numerous factors influencing a person’s ability to maintain blood glucose levels within a set range. It requires more than just medication. It is also a function of delivering a comprehensive, person-centred approach that addresses medical, educational, psychological and systemic needs. For example, PwD must have access to affordable medicines and technologies, including insulin, glucose monitoring systems and other essential treatments. Structured and continuous diabetes education, not only at diagnosis but throughout life, is also essential to improve self-management but it remains widely unavailable. Currently, up to half of PwD do not meet their blood glucose targets and/or develop complications, highlighting both the challenges of diabetes management and the shortcomings of our healthcare systems and societies in creating environments that enable effective diabetes management. Beyond management, one-third of PwD remain undiagnosed, making glycaemic control impossible for these individuals.
While improving glycaemic control has an immediate and measurable impact in reducing premature mortality, the policy interventions required to achieve this are far from simple. This underscores the hidden complexity of the ‘quick buy’ glycaemic control. Recognising this complexity is essential to ensuring that efforts to implement ‘quick buys’ translate into meaningful, sustainable change for PwD.
IDF Europe welcomes the ‘quick buys’ initiative as a valuable tool to drive policy action on NCDs. However additional efforts beyond the ‘quick buys’ will be essential in effectively lowering the risk of diabetes and improving its management. While these interventions offer policymakers a clear timeline for measurable impact, helping to demonstrate the return on investment, it is important to note that they are not a substitute for the broader ‘best buys’ or other proven effective NCD strategies. Rather, they should serve as a complementary subset, offering policymakers an entry point for action while reinforcing the need for sustained, long-term investment in comprehensive NCD and diabetes strategies. Addressing the growing NCD burden requires integrated action on prevention, early detection and management, rather than fragmented, one-off solutions. For the global health community and advocates, the ‘quick buys’ offer a valuable opportunity to engage policymakers with tangible solutions that can help bridge the NCD implementation gap and accelerate progress in improving the health and well-being of citizens around the world.
