The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated more than ever the need for global and national leadership in supporting resilient health and other systems, and the reality that health, economy and better societies are inextricably linked. Also important is the mobilisation of non-health sectors through polices and programmes that facilitate a ‘whole-of-society’ and ‘whole-of-government’ response. In many instances, this will require much more in-depth and coordinated engagement with key actors in finance, procurement and supply chain management, public communication, the private sector, and civil society, as well as consumers and people living with NCDs. This, combined with learning from NCD prevention and control failures and successes, shines an important light on the need for robust, system-wide approaches and sustainable implementation at scale.