Assessment of Non-Communicable Disease Indicators in South-East Asian Region Countries

Abstract

Background: NCDs are the leading cause of mortality in the WHO SEAR, accounting for nearly 55% of all deaths. Despite regional commitments and WHO-recommended interventions, the extent of implementation of NCD policies and trends in risk factors across SEAR countries remains inadequately understood. Objectives: To assess the implementation of WHO-NCD progress monitoring indicators across SEAR countries and to analyse trends and patterns in major behavioural and metabolic NCD risk factors.  Methods: A document analysis was conducted using WHO NCD Progress Monitor reports (2015, 2017, 2020, 2022, and 2025), WHO Global Health Observatory datasets, and WHO MPOWER tobacco control indicators. Policy implementation was assessed across governance, surveillance, risk factor reduction, and health system response domains. Trends in tobacco use, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, obesity, hypertension, cholesterol, and diabetes were analysed using available country-level data. Results: NCD policy implementation improved across SEAR countries between 2015 and 2025, although progress varied considerably among countries. Thailand and Sri Lanka achieved the highest implementation scores, while Bhutan and North Korea demonstrated comparatively lower progress. Tobacco control measures contributed to declining smoking prevalence in most countries, whereas Indonesia showed increasing tobacco use. Obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and physical inactivity increased across several countries despite gradual policy improvements. Progress in alcohol control, unhealthy diet policies, mortality surveillance, and integrated health system responses remained inconsistent, highlighting persistent implementation gaps. Conclusion: SEAR countries have made measurable progress in implementing NCD policies; however, substantial disparities remain in policy execution, surveillance systems, and risk factor control. Strengthening multisectoral collaboration, improving routine health information systems, expanding evidence-based prevention strategies, and reinforcing primary healthcare services are essential to accelerate progress towards regional and global NCD targets.