The Regional Action Framework for Noncommunicable Disease Prevention and Control provides a unified vision of objectives and recommended actions to combat the noncommunicable disease (‎NCD)‎ epidemic in the Western Pacific Region.

South Asia is home to 9 of the world's 10 cities with the worst air pollution. Concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in some of the region's most densely populated and poor areas are up to 20 times higher than what the World Health Organization considers healthy (5 micrograms per cubic meter).

Much of what is currently known about the adverse effects of ambient air pollution comes from studies conducted in high-income regions, especially North America and Europe, with relatively low air pollution levels.

It is universally recognized that air pollution is a pressing environmental challenge that has increased considerably in recent years, leading to a rise in premature deaths, threatening livelihoods, and the sustainable development of the region.

Rapid population growth, industrialization, and urbanization combined with delayed enactment of environmental policies have led to serious air quality problems across Asia.

India has dropped from fifth to eighth place in terms of the world’s most polluted countries in 2022. According to this World Air Quality Report 2022 by the IQAir, out of the 50 most polluted cities in the world, 39 are in India.

The world is off track to meet its target of reducing salt intake by almost a third by 2025, costing thousands of lives, according to this new report by the World Health Organisation (WHO).