Kremlin Wickramasinghe

Our #newbook on population level prevention of #NCDs is now published @OUPMedicine amzn.to/2losTV9 Welcome any comments or reviews

Liver disease is often silent until it is advanced. Too many people reach specialist care after chances for prevention and early intervention have been missed. Speaking at the #WHA79 side event on holistic approach to metabolic health and noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) prevention and care, convened by @EASLnews, I stressed that it is time to move from fragmented approaches to integrated prevention and care. That means we need to: ▶️integrate liver and metabolic health into broader NCD and primary care frameworks ▶️ invest in prevention policies that address the drivers of disease, including unhealthy diets and alcohol consumption ▶️ strengthen surveillance, implementation research and accountability To support this work, @WHO_Europe is designating a new WHO Collaborating Centre at @imperialcollege to strengthen data, training and country support. Grateful to Egypt’s Health Minister Prof. Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar, EASL Secretary General Prof @DebbieShawcros1, and all high-level speakers and partners for helping put metabolic and liver health higher on the global health agenda. We know the drivers. We know the solutions. The task now is to implement health promotion policies at the scale people need.

.@CMO_England Professor Sir Chris Whitty explains what the Tobacco and Vapes Act, which became law today, means for future generations. From 1 January 2027, no one born on or after 1 January 2009 will legally be sold tobacco, creating the UK's first smoke-free generation. Read more: gov.uk/government/new…

Physical activity is one of the simplest and most powerful things we can do for our health. And it does not have to start with big changes - it can be as simple as walking to work, taking the stairs, cycling, or simply spending less time sitting still. On this World Day for Physical Activity, I invite you to make movement part of everyday life. Let’s Walk the Talk. Here is my short message. @WHO | @WHO_Europe

Congratulations to Norway for banning the marketing of unhealthy foods and drinks to children – a timely move to protect the next generation. This action responds to a real public health challenge: more than 1 in 5 school-aged children in Norway are living with overweight or obesity, while 8 in 10 food and drink ads aimed at children promote unhealthy nutrition. Norway’s step shows that governments can act decisively to protect children’s health, and I hope this example encourages other countries across our Region to follow suit. Read more here: bit.ly/4t0hrkR

WHO’s work will remain grounded in evidence, politically neutral, and focused on those who need it most. I shared this message with 18 medical professionals from Brazil, China, Jordan, Mexico and Viet Nam visiting @UNCityCPH as part of the noncommunicable diseases and health systems course led by the University of Copenhagen. Drawing on my humanitarian experience, I underlined that health must never be politicized, and that our responsibility is greatest towards those who are too often left behind. Meeting professionals from across the world who share this sense of purpose was deeply encouraging. That diversity is a strength, creating space for shared learning, fresh perspectives and a stronger commitment to equity, solidarity and better #HealthForAll.

In major European economies – such as the UK, France and Germany – over 75% of people with fatty liver disease (MASH) remain undiagnosed. Without urgent action, the prevalence of advanced liver disease could see a 40% increase by 2030. This was a key focus of my meeting with the @imperialcollege team and @EASLedu leadership today in London 🇬🇧. I’m looking forward to our first Pan-European report on steatotic liver disease to map prevalence, early detection and care models – so countries can scale their response to match the magnitude of a challenge costing European health systems ~€35 billion each year in direct medical expenses. With Imperial’s designation as a @WHO Collaborating Centre on steatotic liver disease in its final stage, @WHO_Europe gains a trusted strategic partner to drive evidence into policy and real-world impact.

⏰ Last chance! Join us on 10 Feb for the WHO/Europe & JA Prevent NCDs webinar on front-of-pack labelling with a fantastic lineup of expert speakers and panelists. 🕙 10:00–11:30 CET 🔗 Register now: bit.ly/4aApBdl #NutritionPolicy #NCDs

WHO urges schools worldwide to promote healthy eating for children. Healthy food in schools helps children develop healthy dietary habits for life bit.ly/4bgJ2Zz

Great news ⁦@EUErasmusPlus⁩ theguardian.com/world/2025/dec…

I was pleased to contribute to this podcast by @FoodNationDK "Global Food Talk: How do we transform food systems to support better health for more people while reducing environmental impact? " at buzzsprout.com/248161/episode…

@EASOobesity @EuropeLiver @TomislavSokol @Europarl_EN @KremlinKW @WHO And that’s a wrap! Thanks for joining the debate and following the conversation. Keep an eye on our upcoming #eaDebates: events.euractiv.com

Heartbroken to see the catastrophic impact of severe weather, including Cyclone Ditwah, across Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Malaysia & Thailand. My thoughts are with the families grieving more than 1,000 lives lost, with those still searching for missing loved ones, and with the millions who have been displaced or affected. Together with @RD_WPRO, @WHOWPRO, @BoehmeCatharina and @WHOSEARO, we at @WHO_Europe stand in full solidarity with the people of 🇮🇩 🇱🇰 🇮🇳 🇲🇾 🇹🇭, and with their health ministries and government agencies, as they confront this immense humanitarian and health crisis. My deepest appreciation goes to the first responders, health workers and emergency teams who are working under extremely challenging conditions to reach stranded communities, restore essential services and protect lives amid such devastating loss. 📷 Ishara S. KODIKARA/AFP via Getty Images; Eranga Jayawardena/AP; Binsar Bakkara/AP; Chamila Karunarathne/EPA

Today, @WHO published a guideline in JAMA on the use and indications of #GLP1 therapies, including GLP-1 receptor agonists and GLP-1/GIP dual agonists, for the global treatment of #obesity in adults. ja.ma/48CbXFB 🧵

Thank you for the great discussion on the importance of tackling #NCDs

DG SANTE at the @WHO_Europe #RC75CPH: The fight against non-communicable diseases continues: with the upcoming ambitious European Cardiovascular Plan. It will provide impetus to WHO seminal NCD efforts in its Second Program of Work and its new Child & Adolescent Health Strategy.

Pleased to welcome our non-State actor (NSA) partners to the 2nd annual engagement event ahead of #RC75CPH. Our partnership with NSAs is vital to advancing health in the European Region. They help turn our policies and recommendations into tangible results, connect institutions with people’s lived realities, and bring expertise and innovation. A clear illustration of this was NSAs’ contribution to developing the new European Programme of Work (#EPW2). Over the past year, we have also launched and begun implementing our NSA Engagement Plan, providing a strong framework for collaboration. Today’s meeting focused on our “Ageing is Living” initiative - a priority area in #EPW2. Our vision is to build health systems and societies where ageing is seen as a privilege, not as a burden. With the insight and unique contribution of our NSA partners and friends, we will shape a strategy that is practical and grounded in reality. For more information 👉 bit.ly/3WXwwFK #UnitedActionForBetterHealth #HealthForAll

Translating WHO #NCD Best Buys into country action: introducing smarter taxes on unhealthy products, strengthening multisectoral collaboration, and investing in primary health care and public-health capacity. 🙏MOH for leadership & all stakeholders for the engagement.

On the ground in Bishkek! Kyrgyzstan is taking big strides to tackle #NCDs and strengthen #PHC. This week, our WHO mission joined the Ministry of Health and frontline PHC teams to shape a new national NCD prevention strategy bringing prevention and care closer to every community.

Luxembourg has made impressive progress in reducing premature deaths from non-communicable diseases (NCDs). 🇱🇺 is among 10 countries to meet the European Programme of Work target of a 25% reduction by 2025 - thanks to one of the strongest NCD treatment systems in our Region. In my meeting with Health Minister Martine Deprez, I congratulated this achievement & welcomed Luxembourg’s vision to place prevention alongside treatment, including promoting physical activity & linking #NCD prevention with primary health care. I thanked Minister Deprez for her leadership in addressing violence against women & girls and invited her to join my special initiative on this issue under the new European Programme of Work. Grateful for Luxembourg’s global health leadership as upcoming chair of #RC75, co-chairing the UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs & Mental Health, and for its continued support for WHO/Europe’s NCD work. #HealthForAll

At the #UNGA side event “Quick Buys, Big Dividends”, I stressed that noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) cause 1.8 million deaths every year in the WHO European Region, which could have been avoided though prevention & timely, effective treatment. COVID-19 disrupted progress in reducing premature NCD deaths in our Region, but we know what works: “quick buys” such as taxes on unhealthy products, food labeling, HPV vaccination can deliver measurable results in under 5 years. With strong political leadership and the courage to implement evidence-based policies we can save lives, cut costs & boost productivity. Grateful to Luxembourg for hosting this important event & for its leadership in co-chairing the @UN High-Level Meeting on #NCDs & Mental Health. #HealthForAll