Actionable health system and policy strategies for the prevention and mitigation of non-communicable diseases: a scoping review protocol.

introductionNon-communicable diseases (NCDs), including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancers and chronic respiratory diseases, account for a substantial proportion of global mortality and morbidity and represent a major challenge for the health system worldwide. Effective prevention and mitigation of NCDs requires coordinated strategies that combine health system interventions with population-level policies targeting key risk factors such as tobacco use, harmful alcohol consumption, unhealthy diets and physical inactivity. Evidence on actionable strategies implemented across diverse health systems and policy contexts remains fragmented. This scoping review aims to map the range, nature and implementation contexts of actionable health system and policy strategies for the prevention and mitigation of NCDs. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The review will follow the methodology outlined by the Joanna Briggs Institute for scoping reviews and will be reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. A comprehensive search will be conducted across MEDLINE (via PubMed), Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO and Global Health. Grey literature sources such as government reports, national NCD strategies and documents from international organisations will also be searched to capture policy and implementation evidence. Studies involving populations at risk of or living with NCDs and describing health system or policy interventions aimed at prevention or mitigation will be eligible. Study selection will be conducted in two stages-title and abstract screening followed by full-text review-by two independent reviewers using predefined criteria based on the Population-Concept-Context framework. Data will be extracted using a standardised charting form capturing bibliographic information, study characteristics, intervention types, implementation contexts and outcomes, then summarised by geographical region, study design and intervention type. A thematic synthesis will categorise interventions into major domains such as health system-based strategies and population-level policy interventions. Findings will be presented through narrative summaries, tables and evidence maps. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This scoping review involves only secondary analysis of published and publicly available literature, and does not involve primary data collection, so no ethical approval is required. The findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journal publications and conference presentations.