Scotland

Non-Communicable Disease Alliance Scotland

Pancreatic Cancer Action has joined the NCD Alliance in Scotland. We hope that by joining this alliance we can work together with different organisations to prevent risk factors of pancreatic cancer.

NCD Alliance Scotland is a coalition of health organisations and charities who are working together to reduce the health burden of non-communicable diseases (NCD) through action on alcohol, tobacco, and high fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) products.

Non-Communicable Diseases (such as cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes and lung disease) are responsible for almost 39,000 deaths every year in Scotland — that’s more than two-thirds of all deaths.  We’re campaigning with other public health organisations to address Scotland’s biggest killers through action on societal factors that cause ill-health.[1]

It has been estimated that almost 14,000 deaths in Scotland are preventable through public health action.

Approximately 2/3 of the major risk factors for pancreatic cancer are potentially modifiable.[2]

Reducing the consumption of health harming products, like alcohol, tobacco and unhealthy food and drink, is one of the key ways to reduce the number of lives lost to, and affected by, NCDs.

"The Scottish Government tobacco-free generation target of reducing smoking prevalence to 5% by 2034, is already estimated to be 16 years behind target."

What’s more, the consumption and availability of health harming products are often highest in our most deprived areas. We must ensure that the healthy choice is the easy choice for people in Scotland, regardless of their community.

The Scottish Government tobacco-free generation target of reducing smoking prevalence to 5% by 2034, is already estimated to be 16 years behind target.

Urgent action is needed on tobacco, alcohol, and unhealthy food and drink. This is why we have joined together with this alliance to be one voice against preventable diseases.

For more information on the alliance, click here for the full report on Non-Communicable Disease Prevention: Mapping Future Harm. Which sets out the need for action on health harming products.

Citations:

[1] Non-Communicable Disease Prevention

[2] Olakowski, M., & Bułdak, Ł. (2022). Modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors for the development of non-hereditary pancreatic cancer. Medicina, 58(8), 978.