Health systems in the SDG era: consolidating and building on the gains

Abstract

Global health today stands at cross-roads, with unanticipated problems challenging the unprecedented progress achieved over the last two decades. To achieve the targets established for the sustainable development goal 3 of “ensuring healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages”, significant resources and comprehensive health systems must play a critical and integral role. World Health Organization’s (WHO) framework for action on “Strengthening Health Systems to Improve Health Outcomes” has well identified the challenges of global health. The Global Strategy for Women's, Children's and Adolescents' Health 2015-2030 states that for women’s and children’s health investments in high-impact health interventions for RMNCH at a cost of US$5 per person per year up to 2035 in 74 high-burden countries, could yield up to nine times that value in economic and social benefits. As global health marches towards achieving universal health coverage (UHC), innovative health financing schemes and health system design will be the major determinants of equity and efficiency in resource allocation and health care delivery. Because we are now in a critical phase, it is imperative that the initial years of the SDGs receive utmost thrust from all relevant stakeholders across countries to initiate and maintain a sustained momentum for achieving the targets. The primary priority for the health-related targets’ therefore’ necessitates the need for formulation of robust, responsive and resilient health systems strategies by all the major policy makers and concerned stakeholders.