FDI’s global advocacy secures oral health spot in UN NCD agenda

GENEVA – In a major step forward for global health advocacy, the FDI World Dental Federation has successfully secured the inclusion of oral health in the latest draft of the United Nations High-Level Meeting (HLM4) political declaration on noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), scheduled for September 2025.

This breakthrough comes after FDI, led by President Dr. Greg Chadwick, intensified its diplomatic and stakeholder engagement ahead of HLM4, rallying governments and international partners to recognize the critical link between oral health and broader public health priorities.

Filling a glaring gap in the global declaration

The momentum was triggered by the absence of any mention of oral health in the initial zero draft of the HLM4 political declaration. Alarmed by the omission, FDI quickly mobilized its network, deploying advocacy tools and initiating outreach to national dental associations (NDAs) and ministries of health across multiple countries.

FDI’s actions were complemented by the publication of a joint policy document with the International Association for Dental, Oral and Craniofacial Research (IADR), titled "No Health Without Oral Health", released during the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA78) in May. The document highlights the need to integrate oral health into NCD prevention, mental health strategies, and universal health coverage (UHC).

Strategic diplomacy and global engagement

FDI’s campaign was multi-pronged and highly visible at WHA78. Key activities included:

• Advocacy side event hosted by the Government of Malaysia

• Representation at the World Health Professions Alliance (WHPA) forum on investing in the health workforce

• Co-organization of a high-level meeting for the Global Coalition on Oral Health

• Participation in the UICC roundtable on antimicrobial resistance

• Panel contribution to a Devex–Haleon side event focused on scaling up oral health in NCD strategies

FDI also delivered formal statements on core WHA agenda items, including maternal and child nutrition, AMR, and NCD integration.

Progress reflected in updated HLM4 draft

As a result of these interventions, several Member States raised the issue of oral health during WHA78 discussions. The revised HLM4 draft now includes explicit references to:

• Oral health

• The WHO Global Oral Health Meeting

• The Bangkok Declaration on Oral Health

This development marks a pivotal shift in how oral health is positioned within global health governance.

Looking ahead: Keeping oral health on the policy map

FDI remains focused on ensuring that oral health is not only retained in the final version of the HLM4 political declaration but becomes embedded as a core health system priority worldwide. With growing momentum and multi-stakeholder support, the organization urges governments, healthcare professionals, and global health partners to continue their advocacy through to the final negotiation phase.

“Oral health is integral to systemic health, and its inclusion in NCD policy is long overdue,” said FDI leadership. “We call on our global community to keep pushing forward—until oral health is truly recognized as essential to every human being’s well-being.”