25 September 2025, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND –
On the sidelines of the UN High-Level Meeting, the United for Self-Care Coalition has unveiled the “Health for All, by All: The Self-Care Manifesto,” a brand- new document aimed at supporting the fight against the global crisis of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The Manifesto calls on policymakers and Member States to champion self-care as a central strategy to prevent and manage conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and cancer, which account for a staggering 75% of non-pandemic global deaths.
A Critical Enabler for Global Health Commitments
The Coalition fully supports the adoption of the 2025 Political Declaration on the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases and the Promotion of Mental Health and Well-Being (the Declaration). It positions self-care – defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the ability of individuals, families, and communities to promote health, prevent disease, maintain health, and cope with illness with or without the support of a healthcare provider – as a key enabler to advance the Declaration’s commitments. Self-care is a proven, practical, and scalable public health solution and by empowering individuals to manage their health proactively, it can significantly reduce the strain on overstretched healthcare systems and free up valuable resources.
The Case for Self-Care: Impact and Savings
The Declaration itself highlights the immense potential of self-care interventions to generate measurable gains. By 2030, these strategies could lead to:
150 million more people quitting tobacco.
150 million more people gaining control over hypertension.
- 150 million more people with access to mental health support.
Beyond these health outcomes, self-care is a powerful economic tool, projected to deliver annual savings of at least $119 billion and the freeing up of 1.8 billion physician hours globally. By 2030, these savings could grow to $179 billion per year, with potential gains of $230 billion in Low and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) alone, where 85% of premature NCD deaths occur.
Together For Common Goals
The signatories of the Manifesto urge policymakers to act now by:
- Providing dedicated investment in self-care infrastructure, including digital health tools, education campaigns, and equitable access to self-care products and tools, with a particular focus on women, youth, marginalized communities, and vulnerable populations.
- Incentivizing self-care within financing models such as through value-based care, universal coverage schemes, and public-private partnerships.
- Embedding self-care in health workforce planning allowing care teams to focus their expertise where it’s most needed, while individuals take more control over routine management.
- Integrating self-care into primary care strategies enabling earlier intervention, better health outcomes, and reduced system strain.
- Systematically involving patients and people with lived experience in designing, implementing, and evaluating self-care infrastructure, policies, products and tools.
The Manifesto’s message is clear: self-care is not a trend; it’s a global health solution that is ready, relevant, and realizable. By working together, we can turn the tide on NCDs and build healthier, more resilient communities worldwide.