Noncommunicable Diseases

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) now account for over 60% of deaths in Nepal, yet the health system remains oriented toward infectious diseases and maternal-child health. Cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, cancer, and kidney disease are rising rapidly — driven by urbanisation, dietary shifts, tobacco use, and air pollution. With limited NCD screening capacity and treatment access concentrated in urban tertiary hospitals, most patients are diagnosed late. This collection examines evidence on NCD prevention, primary care-based management, and cost-effective interventions relevant to Nepal's epidemiological transition.