Consensus collapses after US rejects UN declaration on chronic diseases

U.S. health secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. stated during a United Nations high-level meeting on Sep. 25 that the United States will not endorse the U.N.’s new political declaration on non-communicable diseases (NCDs). He called the pact “misdirected,” “overly controlling in parts,” and outside the U.N.’s proper remit — adding that Washington remains committed to fighting chronic disease, but on its own terms.The 15-page declaration sets targets for non-communicable diseases that “account for more than 43 million deaths each year,” many of which “occur prematurely (before the age of 70 years),” according to the document. The referenced diseases include cancers,...