We collaborate on an article about non-communicable diseases in Europe

Scientific director Ane Fullaondo and researcher Yhasmine Hamu are the authors of the publication, which is part of the JACARDI project.

The Biosistemak Institute participates in a new international article published in The Lancet Regional Health – Europe, which calls for decisive action to transform the way Europe monitors non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and mental health disorders. The work has been jointly developed by the JACARDI and JA PreventNCD Joint Actions, together with the WHO Regional Office for Europe.

The publication, entitled “Strengthening non-communicable diseases monitoring systems in Europe through a multistakeholder collaborative approach: a key priority for advancing data-driven policymaking“, comes at a key moment following the Fourth United Nations High-Level Meeting on Non-communicable Diseases and Mental Health. “Europe has a unique opportunity, and responsibility, to recommit to data-driven health governance and sustained investment in resilient non-communicable disease monitoring systems,” the authors explain in the article. Biosistemak’s scientific director, Ane Fullaondo, and researcher Yhasmine Hamu participated in the article as part of their work within the European JACARDI initiative.

A call to action: five priorities for 2025 and beyond

The article identifies five key areas for action to strengthen NCD monitoring. First, it proposes collecting inclusive and disaggregated data to highlight inequalities and guide effective interventions. Second, it raises the need to strengthen governance and legal frameworks that bring coherence to systems. Thirdly, it stresses the importance of ensuring stable long-term investment to guarantee the sustainability of monitoring. Fourthly, it highlights the need to integrate information systems into real-time decision-making and policy design. Finally, it advocates promoting cross-sectoral collaboration and citizen participation, incorporating the experiences of affected individuals and communities.

“Europe has a unique opportunity and responsibility to strengthen data-driven health governance and to invest sustainably in robust monitoring systems,” the authors note.

The challenge: from commitments to reality

Although it is estimated that 80% of non-communicable diseases can be prevented through public policies and early detection strategies, European monitoring systems remain fragmented and uneven . In many cases, they depend on short-term projects and lack stable governance structures or sufficient funding.

This creates a gap between the most ambitious global commitments and the actual progress made at the national level, limiting the ability to design effective and coordinated responses. The authors emphasise that monitoring is not just about collecting data, but about using it in real time to drive more responsible and equitable policies.

Data that reflects lives, not just numbers

The report focuses on the need for more inclusive and disaggregated data collection that reflects inequalities by age, gender, socioeconomic status, disability, ethnicity, or migration status. “We must see data not as numbers, but as reflections of human lives and rights. Its true power comes when it amplifies the voices of those who are often marginalised and when it helps to hold systems accountable,” says Dr Benedetta Armocida, JACARDI coordinator at the Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS) in Rome. Without inclusive information, health inequalities remain invisible and policies risk perpetuating exclusion.

Lessons and examples from Europe

The publication also highlights that progress is possible when there is clear governance, sustained funding and collaboration between sectors. Examples such as the European Joint Actions JACARDI and JA PreventNCD are helping countries to align methodologies, share tools and learn from each other, improving the comparability and usefulness of data for prevention and health promotion.

“We need to treat monitoring as essential infrastructure. If it depends on specific projects or individuals, it will be uneven; if it is institutionalised, it can guide priorities, strengthen accountability and sustain long-term progress,” explains Professor Knut-Inge Klepp, scientific coordinator of JA PreventNCD at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health.

Europe, the authors conclude, has the responsibility and opportunity to lead the way towards more robust, inclusive and resilient health information systems that can serve as a global benchmark.

Biosistemak’s contribution to the JACARDI project

This publication is part of the JACARDI Joint Action, which seeks to reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease and diabetes in the European Union through the implementation of good practices and transnational pilot projects. Its objectives range from health literacy and prevention to improving care pathways.

Biosistemak represents the Basque Country as an Affiliated Entity within the project and plays a key role in various areas. The Institute co-leads communication and dissemination tasks, participates in the development of methodological frameworks for the implementation of European pilot projects, co-leads the area of health literacy where 24 pilot projects are being carried out, and leads the deployment of the heart failure pathway together with the mapping of European needs in this area.

The JACARDI project will run for four years, from 1 November 2023 to 31 October 2027, and is part of the European Union’s EU4Health programme.

Article reference:

Armocida B, Tolonen H, Rakovac I, et al. Strengthening non-communicable diseases monitoring systems in Europe through a multistakeholder collaborative approach: a key priority for advancing data-driven policymaking. The Lancet Regional Health – Europe. 2026;61:101553. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lanepe.2025.101553