On December 15, 2025, world leaders adopted a long-awaited Political Declaration on noncommunicable diseases and mental health at the United Nations General Assembly. Its passage marks a critical turning point for global NCD action – and for the first time, explicitly recognizes kidney disease as part of the global NCD agenda. For the kidney health community, this is a historic moment.
Global declarations, however, are only as impactful as their implementation. The real test lies in whether countries translate these commitments into action at the national level. The Global Patient Alliance for Kidney Health encourages decisionmakers to uphold the prioritization of NCDs on the global stage and integrate this preventative framework in health care models across the world.
Kidney Disease Recognized on the Global Stage
The newly adopted declaration is the most comprehensive to date, expanding the scope of NCDs to include kidney disease alongside cardiovascular disease, diabetes and other conditions. The formal recognition reflects what patients and clinicians have long known: chronic kidney disease is a major driver or morbidity, mortality and health system strain worldwide, yet has too often been overlooked in global policy discussions.
The milestone comes on the heels of another landmark achievement in 2025 – the adoption of the World Health Organization’s Kidney Health Resolution. Together, these developments firmly establish kidney health as a global priority and make 2025 a defining year for international recognition of kidney disease.
Turning Global Commitments into National Action
The Political Declaration and the WHO Kidney Health Resolution provide a powerful framework for action, but progress will depend on how governments translate these commitments into national health strategies. This means prioritizing prevention, expanding access to routine screening and early diagnosis and ensuring timely, affordable treatment for people in the early stages of kidney disease – before progression to kidney failure. It also means adopting a holistic approach that recognizes the interconnected nature of kidney disease and other noncommunicable conditions like cardiovascular disease, diabetes and hypertension.
Kidney disease is largely preventable and treatable when identified early, yet millions of people worldwide lack access to basic screening and primary care services. Without deliberate national action, the opportunity created here risks being lost.
To learn more about translating the Political Declaration into action, read the NCD Alliance’s advocacy guide.
Image Source: UN Web TV