Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), namely cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes, cause 63% of the world’s total mortality. ¹ Of the premature deaths from NCDs that occur in people between the ages of 30 and 70 years, 86% – i.e. approximately 12 million – occur in developing countries. ² The cumulative economic losses to low- and middle-income countries from the major NCDs are expected to surpass seven trillion United States dollars (US$) over the period from 2011 to 2025 (an average of nearly US$ 500 billion per year). ³