The Lancet  
Sep 10, 2011  Volume 378  Number 9795  p961 – 1048
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/issue/current

Editorial
Time for action in New York on non-communicable diseases
The Lancet

Preview
A major opportunity to advance global health is in danger of being lost. On Sept 19–20, heads of states and governments will gather in New York, NY, USA, at the UN High-Level Meeting on Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs) to approve a political statement on responding to the global NCD crisis. These diseases, principally cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases, are responsible for two-thirds of the 57 million deaths worldwide each year, with four of five NCD deaths occurring in low-income and middle-income countries; at least half these deaths are readily preventable.