Washington, DC, January 7, 2026 (PAHO) – The Pan American Journal of Public Health, the scientific publication of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), recently published a special issue dedicated to strengthening primary health care to address noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in the Americas.
NCDs—including cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases—are the leading cause of death in the Americas, causing 6 million deaths in 2021, nearly four out of ten of which were premature, affecting people under 70 years of age.
In addition, it is estimated that more than 250 million people in the Americas are living with an NCD and require ongoing care to better manage their condition. Evidence shows that NCDs can be effectively controlled and quality of life improved, and that a significant portion of premature deaths could be prevented through more accessible, effective, and higher-quality primary care services.
This special issue documents, through a series of scientific articles, the progress, challenges, and lessons learned from initiatives led by ministries of health, academic institutions, civil society organizations, and PAHO to improve the screening, diagnosis, treatment, and management of NCDs at the primary care level.
A central focus is PAHO’s Better Care for NCDs initiative, which includes the HEARTS initiative a