The health of populations across the planet is in a perilous state during the COVID-19 pandemic, with more than 550 000 deaths worldwide as of July 10, 2020.1 The disease burden is falling mainly on the most disadvantaged groups worldwide and there are major impacts on health systems across high, middle, and low-income countries. In parallel with these direct health impacts, the economic effects of lockdowns are leading to an unprecedented global recession which will have ramifications well into the future. But while the focus is, rightly, on responding to the immediate threat of the pandemic, it is important to remember that over 40 million people die each year from non-communicable diseases (NCDs), more than 70% of all global deaths.