Vienna, 7 April – On World Health Day 2026, the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) joins the call “Together for health. Stand with science” and urges Member States, international and regional organizations and civil society to translate evidence into action that saves lives and protects communities.
Safeguarding health and welfare are at the heart of the international drug control conventions. Member States are required to take measures to ensure the provision of prevention programmes and access to evidence-based treatment, rehabilitation and social reintegration services for people affected by drug use disorders. Services must be voluntary, accessible and delivered in accordance with international standards and with respect for human rights and dignity.
World Health Day is also an opportunity to recall that internationally controlled medicines are indispensable, as recognized in the drug control conventions. Medicines containing narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances are used for pain management, palliative care, treatment of mental health and neurological conditions and opioid agonist therapy. INCB reiterates the need for balanced policies that ensure equitable access to controlled substances for medical and scientific purposes while preventing diversion, non-medical use and harms associated with non-rational prescribing.
On World Health Day 2026, INCB calls on Governments to prioritize the training of health care professionals to apply science-based practices in prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and recovery, and to ensure safe prescribing, dispensing, administration and rational use of controlled medicines. Better training reduces stigma, improves quality of care and helps remove the barriers that hinder access to essential treatment.
