The HL NCD Network has been established to promote health literacy for achieving progress in reducing premature mortalities from NCDs, as well as preventing diseases and promoting health through the life-course. This Network consists of participants from Member States of the WHO European Region who work together to achieve the SDG target 3.4 (reduce premature mortality from NCDs by one third by 2030) and to support all Member States in reaching this goal. The Network is based on global and national health literacy experiences and will support demonstration projects from countries of the WHO European Region to improve implementation in the prevention of NCDs and to strengthen mental health through the life-course in different settings.

The objectives of the HL NCD Network is to establish a Member States community of practice in health literacy for the implementation of initiatives in the area of prevention and control of NCDs. This entails sharing experiences, reinforce implementations of health literacy projects, generate and disseminate evidence-based knowledge and good practices in health literacy promotion and support and advocate development and implementation of health literacy initiatives, among others.

So far, 26 Member States of the WHO European Region participate in the HL NCD network. The network is currently being chaired by Portugal and the Russian Federation.