The World Health Organisation says that the high cost of treating non-communicable diseases is pushing more and more people in developing countries into poverty.
The world Health body estimates more than 36 million people a year, are dying as a result of diseases such as cancer, diabetes and heart and chronic lung conditions.
WHO is appealing to governments to increase their funding for programmes aimed at preventing non-communicable diseases.Tobacco and alcohol use, unhealthy diets and physical inactivity are major risk factors.
WHO's Dr Ala Alwan told the World Health Assembly in Geneva on Friday that member states need to invest more in the primary health care, to detect cases early enough to cut down the costs of treatment.
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WHO member states have endorsed UN plans to convene a High-level Meeting to look at the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases.
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