Report of the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, par. 6 (2016)

Text of the recommendation

6. Health is central to the Sustainable Development Goals, as it is both an outcome of and a path to achieving poverty reduction and sustainable development. Progress in health is both dependent on and a consequence of progress towards other Goals. Goal 3 is a specific commitment to “ensure healthy lives and promote well being for all at all ages”. Goal 3 is associated with nine targets, which include addressing child and maternal mortality and infectious and non communicable diseases. The Special Rapporteur welcomes recognition of the emerging burden of non communicable diseases, which represent the majority of deaths worldwide, with a disproportionate and devastating impact on the poor and marginalized. There are also cross cutting, systems oriented targets, including universal access to sexual and reproductive health care and universal health coverage.