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SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being

Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages

Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3 or Global Goal 3), regarding “Good Health and Well-being”, is one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals established by the United Nations in 2015. The official wording is: “To ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.” The targets of SDG 3 focus on various aspects of healthy life and healthy lifestyle. Progress towards the targets is measured using 21 indicators. SDG 3 aims to achieve universal health coverage and equitable access of healthcare services to all men and women. It proposes to end the preventable death of newborns, infants and children under five (child mortality) and end epidemics. SDG 3 endures in ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being at all ages. it is one of the key goals to achieve other SDG targets as well. It also exhorts for more research and development, increased health financing, and strengthened the capacity of all countries in health risk reduction and innovation development of healthcare institutions are important to achieve SDG 3 successfully.

SDG 3 has 13 targets and 28 indicators to measure progress toward targets. The first nine targets are outcome targets:

  • reducing maternal mortality
  • ending all preventable deaths under five years of age
  • fighting communicable diseases
  • reducing mortality from non-communicable diseases and promoting mental health
  • preventing and treating substance abuse
  • reducing road injuries and deaths
  • granting universal access to sexual and reproductive care, family planning and education
  • achieving universal health coverage
  • reducing illnesses and deaths from hazardous chemicals and pollution.

The four means of implementation targets are:

  • implementing the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control
  • supporting research, development, and universal access to affordable vaccines and medicines
  • increasing health financing and support the health workforce in developing countries
  • improving early warning systems for global health risks.

Good health is essential to sustainable development and the 2030 Agenda. It focuses on broader economic and social inequalities, urbanization, climate crisis, and the continuing burden of HIV and other infectious diseases, while not forgetting emerging challenges such as non-communicable diseases.

Progress has been made in increasing life expectancy and reducing some of the common causes of child and maternal mortality. Between 2000 and 2016, the worldwide under-five mortality rate decreased by 47 percent (from 78 deaths per 1,000 live births to 41 deaths per 1,000 live births). Still, the number of children dying under age five is very high: 5.6 million in 2016.

TargetsIndicator(s)
3.1   By 2030, reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births  3.1.1   Maternal mortality ratio  

3.1.2   Proportion of births attended by skilled health personnel  
3.2   By 2030, end preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age, with all countries aiming to reduce neonatal mortality to at least as low as 12 per 1,000 live births and under-5 mortality to at least as low as 25 per 1,000 live births  3.2.1   Under-5 mortality rate  
3.2.2   Neonatal mortality rate  
3.3   By 2030, end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases and other communicable diseases  3.3.1   Number of new HIV infections per 1,000 uninfected population, by sex, age and key populations  
3.3.2   Tuberculosis incidence per 100,000 population  
3.3.3   Malaria incidence per 1,000 population  
3.3.4   Hepatitis B incidence per 100,000 population  
3.3.5   Number of people requiring interventions against neglected tropical diseases  
3.4   By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being  3.4.1   Mortality rate attributed to cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes or chronic respiratory disease  
3.4.2   Suicide mortality rate  
3.5   Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol  3.5.1   Coverage of treatment interventions (pharmacological, psychosocial and rehabilitation and aftercare services) for substance use disorders  
3.5.2   Alcohol per capita consumption (aged 15 years and older) within a calendar year in litres of pure alcohol  
3.6   By 2020, halve the number of global deaths and injuries from road traffic accidents  3.6.1   Death rate due to road traffic injuries  
3.7   By 2030, ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services, including for family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programmes  3.7.1   Proportion of women of reproductive age (aged 15–49 years) who have their need for family planning satisfied with modern methods  
3.7.2   Adolescent birth rate (aged 10–14 years; aged 15–19 years) per 1,000 women in that age group  
3.8   Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services and access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all  3.8.1   Coverage of essential health services   3.8.2   Proportion of population with large household expenditures on health as a share of total household expenditure or income  
3.9   By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination  3.9.1   Mortality rate attributed to household and ambient air pollution  
3.9.2   Mortality rate attributed to unsafe water, unsafe sanitation and lack of hygiene (exposure to unsafe Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for All (WASH) services)  
3.9.3   Mortality rate attributed to unintentional poisoning  
3.a   Strengthen the implementation of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in all countries, as appropriate  3.a.1   Age-standardized prevalence of current tobacco use among persons aged 15 years and older  
3.b   Support the research and development of vaccines and medicines for the communicable and non-communicable diseases that primarily affect developing countries, provide access to affordable essential medicines and vaccines, in accordance with the Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health, which affirms the right of developing countries to use to the full the provisions in the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights regarding flexibilities to protect public health, and, in particular, provide access to medicines for all  3.b.1   Proportion of the target population covered by all vaccines included in their national programme    
3.b.2   Total net official development assistance to medical research and basic health sectors    
3.b.3   Proportion of health facilities that have a core set of relevant essential medicines available and affordable on a sustainable basis  
3.c   Substantially increase health financing and the recruitment, development, training and retention of the health workforce in developing countries, especially in least developed countries and small island developing States  3.c.1   Health worker density and distribution  
3.d   Strengthen the capacity of all countries, in particular developing countries, for early warning, risk reduction and management of national and global health risks  3.d.1   International Health Regulations (IHR) capacity and health emergency preparedness
3.d.2   Percentage of bloodstream infections due to selected antimicrobial-resistant organisms  

Custodian agencies
There are six custodian agencies for the 27 indicators of SDG 3. The World Health Organization (WHO) is the main custodian for SDG 3 indicators, being the custodian for 20 out of 27 indicators. This means that the WHO is the dominant custodian agency for this SDG.

The other five custodians for SDG 3 indicators, other than WHO, are:

  • UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) (four indicators),
  • Population Division of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (Indicators 3.7.1 and 3.7.2),
  • Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (Indicator 3.3.1),
  • Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) (Indicator 3.b.2) and
  • United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (Indicator 3.5.1).

Monitoring progress
An annual report is prepared by the Secretary-General of the United Nations evaluating the progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.

A 2018 study in the journal Nature found that while “nearly all African countries demonstrated improvements for children under 5 years old for stunting, wasting, and underweight… much, if not all of the continents will fail to meet the Sustainable Development Goal target—to end malnutrition by 2030”.

Links with other SDGs
The targets of SDG 3 link to targets in other goals: For example, to some targets of SDG 2, SDG 4, SDG 5, SDG 6 etc.

SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) is intrinsically linked with many other Sustainable Development Goals. Progress on SDG 3, such as reducing mortality rates and improving access to healthcare, positively impacts and is also influenced by advancements in other areas like poverty reduction, education, and gender equality. 

Here’s a breakdown of the key linkages:

Positive Synergies:

  • SDG 1 (No Poverty): Poverty is a major determinant of health, and reducing poverty directly contributes to improved health outcomes by increasing access to healthcare, nutritious food, and safe living conditions. 
  • SDG 2 (Zero Hunger): Addressing hunger and malnutrition is crucial for preventing diseases and promoting overall health, as malnutrition weakens the immune system and makes individuals more susceptible to illness. 
  • SDG 4 (Quality Education): Education, particularly for girls, is linked to better health outcomes. Educated individuals are more likely to make informed decisions about their health, access healthcare, and practice healthy behaviours. 
  • SDG 5 (Gender Equality): Gender inequality can lead to disparities in health outcomes, with women and girls often facing barriers to accessing healthcare and experiencing higher rates of certain diseases. Addressing gender inequality is therefore crucial for improving health outcomes for all. 
  • SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation): Access to clean water and sanitation is fundamental for preventing waterborne diseases and promoting hygiene, which are essential for good health. 
  • SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy): Access to clean energy reduces indoor air pollution, which is a major contributor to respiratory illnesses and other health problems. 
  • SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): Decent work and economic growth can improve living standards, increase access to healthcare, and reduce stress and other factors that can negatively impact health. 
  • SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities): Reducing inequalities within and between countries is crucial for ensuring that everyone has access to the resources and opportunities they need to live a healthy life. 
  • SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): Well-planned and sustainable cities can improve air quality, reduce traffic accidents, and provide access to green spaces, all of which contribute to better health. 
  • SDG 13 (Climate Action): Climate change has significant impacts on health, including increased heat waves, extreme weather events, and the spread of infectious diseases. Addressing climate change is therefore essential for protecting human health. 
  • SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions): Strong institutions and peaceful societies are crucial for ensuring access to healthcare, protecting human rights, and promoting social well-being, all of which are essential for good health. 
  • SDG 17 (Partnerships): International partnerships are essential for sharing knowledge, resources, and best practices to achieve SDG 3 and other SDGs. 

In essence, achieving SDG 3 requires a holistic and integrated approach that considers the interconnectedness of health with other social, economic, and environmental factors.

Organizations
Organizations dedicated to good health and well-being include:

  • The Global Fund to Fight AIDS
  • Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS)
  • World Bank
  • World Health Organization (WHO)
  • UNICEF
  • Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA)
  • United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
  • Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
  • UN Women
  • Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunization (GAVI) – the Vaccine Alliance
  • Vodafone Foundation
  • Doctors Without Borders
  • Red Cross International
  • Medical IMPACT
  • Partners in Health
  • Pan Africare
  • The Global Health Network

A revisit to SDG 3 might be necessary to replace some SDG 3 priorities with a set of more realistic targets with more focus on the achievable goals in an improvised and less connected world with slow global economic growth. Policymakers and implementing authorities must plan to holistic approaches to effectively and efficiently improve health systems performance and provide financial risk protection and user satisfaction feedback in their monitoring and evaluation systems. Global convergence of research expertise and investments in collaborative research in producing better vaccines, improving disease monitoring, and reinforcing the existing sanitation and healthcare systems are some of the remedial measures. For the nation’s sustainability and people’s lives, health aspects and economic considerations must go hand in hand. Capitalizing on success and compensating for bottlenecks of targeted, time-limited health programs, can hold the key. Achieving target 3 of SDG is an ambitious aspiration and a powerful indicator of human progress. To continuously deliver myriad health, economic, and social welfare benefits out of it, mobilizing the substantial political will and financial resources are the need of the hour. Policies to promote collaboration and knowledge-sharing for vaccines should be formulated and implemented effectively. We must examine and remove the barriers that deny health care to so many others. Since the year 2030 set for fulfilling the United Nation Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is approaching fast, both development efforts and providing universal healthcare is likely to become increasingly more challenging. The multilateral action and convergence of efforts by global health agencies, national governments, local dispensations, public-private partnerships, and above all, the public participation to accelerate progress would be a game-changer to make UHC achievable.

A few of the several positive things that have happened out of the pandemic include raising public awareness of science and academia-industry collaborations. Consequently, people have begun to realize the importance of research-based product and have started reposing faith in science. Convincing them is now easy and, therefore, a change in mindset with a new vision and new thinking by everyone will make the difference.

FOR MORE DETAILED DISCUSSION ON SDG 3 – GOOD HEALTH AND WELL BEING, LISTEN TO THE PODCAST EPISODE ON ‘RESEARCH WITH NJ’.

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