The article “Measuring progress from 1990 to 2017 and projecting attainment to 2030 of the health-related Sustainable Development Goals for 195 countries and territories: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017” was published in The Lancet in 2018.
Sustainable Development Goals Health Index: Performance on the health-related SDG index and 40 individual health-related indicators, by location, in 2017
Source: GBD 2017 SDG Collaborators. “Measuring progress from 1990 to 2017 and projecting attainment to 2030 of the health-related Sustainable Development Goals for 195 countries and territories: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017.” Lancet (London, England) vol. 392,10159 (2018): 2091-2138. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(18)32281-5
“Although nearly all countries were projected to have improved health-related SDG index scores by 2030, progress varied by country and across individual indicators. Performance on health-related SDG indicators differed subnationally for several countries, as well as by sex and across SDI quintiles, highlighting the need for disaggregated data to ensure that no one is left behind. For many indicators, the annualised rate of change required to meet defined targets far exceeded the pace of progress achieved by any country in the recent past. Yet, even for those indicators with a mean projected value that fell short of the 2030 target, there was some probability of attainment by 2030, highlighting the potential for future SDG achievements if progress can be accelerated in the coming years. These results highlight the need for more rapid yet strategic implementation of programmes and continued monitoring of inequalities in the health-related SDGs within populations.
“SDG indicator progress and challenges
“Health-related SDG index scores were projected to be higher in 2030 than in 2017 in almost all countries; however, improved index performance does not inherently reflect whether or not countries will attain individual SDG targets. The composite nature of the index means that many factors have a part in determining a country’s overall score, and ensuring that progress on the index score translates into progress across indicators and equitably across populations will continue to be a challenge for countries.
“Countries that performed well on the health-related SDG index commonly scored worse on the individual indicators of childhood overweight and alcohol use than on other indicators. Among countries that performed worst on the health-related SDG index, well-certified death registration was a frequent challenge. As populations age, all countries will need to strengthen health information systems to ensure death registration keeps pace with increasing mortality in older populations.23 Although suicide mortality and alcohol use prevalence appeared to be lowest in many countries in north Africa and the Middle East, in places where these practices are deemed illegal or shameful, our results might reflect a dearth of accurate data rather than true circumstances.39,40
“Without a concerted scale-up of efforts to prevent and treat NCDs, most countries will fall short of the 2030 SDG target.9 The NCDs included in SDG indicator 3.4.1—cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases—accounted for 82·8% of all deaths due to NCDs in 2017.21 Total deaths due to NCDs increased from 9·5 million in the population aged 30–69 years in 1990 to 12·9 million in 2017 (or 62·9% of all deaths in that age group).23 Of those 12·9 million deaths, 6·3 million were due to cardiovascular diseases, 4·9 million to cancers, 1·1 million to chronic respiratory diseases, and 0·6 million to diabetes.23 Although the absolute number of deaths due to NCDs is rising annually, in most countries, this increase is the result of population ageing and growth; with the exception of diabetes, age-standardised NCD mortality rates for NCDs included in the SDG indicator have generally decreased.23 Nonetheless, many NCD-related risk exposures have seen minimal changes over time or are increasing, portending future challenges if more deliberate action is not taken against NCDs.21
“In many countries, reductions in mortality due to cardiovascular diseases have been driven by improved access to antihypertensives and statins for addressing high cholesterol.41,42 Investing in programmes that promote the early diagnosis and control of such metabolic risks should be prioritised by national governments and development partners.43 Furthermore, prevention of other modifiable risk factors, such as smoking, harmful alcohol consumption, and obesity, should also be a priority, as advocated by WHO’s best buys for NCD control, including taxation of alcohol and tobacco and reduced salt intake.44 Yet, national financing of NCD programmes remains low, with patients often paying out-of-pocket for related services,45 and surveillance and reporting of NCDs are still sparse in many regions.46 The lack of action against NCDs is a current paradox of global health: despite numerous high-profile commitments and robust evidence underscoring the impact of NCDs, the actual scale-up and maintenance of NCD-related interventions and programmes is lacklustre at best.9 Inadequate access to affordable diagnostics and treatment, poor prioritisation of NCD risk-prevention programmes, and low overall UHC are among challenges facing many low-SDI and middle-SDI countries.42,47 Political influences and corporate interests might also affect the effectiveness of NCD programmes and policies, particularly those targeting sugar and alcohol consumption.48,49
“Our estimates from 2017 indicate that 47·2% of countries and territories have less than one physician per 1000 population and 46·2% have less than three nurses or midwives per 1000 population. The largest gaps in health worker density were found in sub-Saharan Africa, although density was also low in southeast Asia, south Asia, and some countries in Oceania. GBD 2017 provides consistently estimated time series across locations for health worker density as an SDG indicator and by cadre, which supports supplementary analyses of the types and numbers of health workers required to deliver particular sets of interventions or health programmes. For instance, the threshold of 23 physicians, nurses, or midwives per 10,000 population, which was set by WHO in 2006, was a widely referenced minimum required to provide essential maternal and child health services during the Millennium Development Goals era.50 12 years later, this recommendation persists, despite it being likely that very different health workforce quantities, composition, and quality of training are needed to provide a broader range of effective health-care services—particularly as more countries aim to make progress towards UHC.
“With their explicit emphasis on eliminating violence, the SDGs offer an opportunity to reduce and prevent violence against females and children.51 This is the first time that a global development agenda has prioritised all forms of violence, including violence against females and children, homicides, and armed conflicts. Reliable information and evidence are required to develop programmes and policies to prevent violence, as well as to demand accountability and resources from governments, civil society, and international institutions when violent acts occur. As a result, it is vital to strengthen routine reporting of violence across all ages, and to ensure that accurate, timely measures of violence are accompanied by effective support and systems for survivors of violent acts to enable long-term recovery.”
Source: GBD 2017 SDG Collaborators. “Measuring progress from 1990 to 2017 and projecting attainment to 2030 of the health-related Sustainable Development Goals for 195 countries and territories: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017.” Lancet (London, England) vol. 392,10159 (2018): 2091-2138. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(18)32281-5
Breaking News
- WHO Releases World Health Report 2025 May 15, 2025May 15, 2025 The WHO released its World Health Report 2025 on May 15, 2025. According to the WHO: “An estimated 1.4 billion more people were living healthier by the end of 2024, surpassing the 1 billion target. The progress in healthier lives was driven by reduction in tobacco use, improved air quality and better access ...
- WHO: Nursing workforce grows but disparities in access persist May 15, 2025May 15, 2025 A new report issued May 12 by the World Health Organization finds that “1 in 7 nurses worldwide – and 23% in high-income countries – are foreign-born, highlighting reliance on international migration.” The WHO reports that: “The global nursing workforce has grown from 27.9 million in 2018 to 29.8 million in 2023, but wide disparities in ...
- WHO: Health inequities are shortening lives by decades May 15, 2025May 15, 2025 A new report issued May 6th by the World Health Organization finds that “underlying causes of ill health often stem from factors beyond the health sector, such as lack of quality housing, education and job opportunities.” According to the WHO, the new World report on social determinants of health equity shows that “such determinants can ...
- Medical Debt in Collections in the US May 1, 2025August 6, 2021 On July 20, JAMA published an article on medical debt in collections in the US entitled “Medical Debt in the US, 2009-2020.” The researchers found: “In this retrospective analysis of credit reports for a nationally representative 10% panel of individuals, an estimated 17.8% of individuals in the US had medical debt in collections in ...
- Healthcare in the US Compared to Other High-Income Countries May 1, 2025August 6, 2021 On August 4, the Commonwealth Fund issued a new report entitled Mirror, Mirror 2021: Reflecting Poorly / Health Care in the US Compared to Other High-Income Countries. The report compares health care systems in eleven nations: the United States, Canada, Switzerland, France, Sweden, New Zealand, Germany, the United Kingdom, Australia, the Netherlands, and Norway. The ...
- Gallup: 11% of US Adults Unable to Afford or Access Quality Healthcare April 2, 2025April 2, 2025 Eleven percent of US adults are unable to afford or access quality healthcare, according to new research by Gallup and West Health. According to Gallup (“In U.S., Inability to Pay for Care, Medicine Hits New High,” April 2, 2025, last accessed April 2, 2025): “The most notable increases since 2021 have occurred among Hispanic adults ...
- Healthcare Policies in US States: The Washington Cares Fund March 6, 2025March 6, 2025 The Washington Cares Fund is a long-term care insurance program operated by the state of Washington. According to the WA Cares Fund website (accessed March 6, 2025), “All working Washingtonians contribute a small percentage of their income into the fund. Then when you need care, you can access your earned benefit of $36,500 ...
- US Healthcare Spending Hits $4.9 Trillion December 18, 2024December 18, 2024 US healthcare spending continues to grow. According to an article in the journal Health Affairs (Anne B. Martin, Micah Hartman, Benjamin Washington, Aaron Catlin, and The National Health Expenditure Accounts Team, National Health Expenditures In 2023: Faster Growth As Insurance Coverage And Utilization Increased, Health Affairs (2024), doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2024.01375): “National health care spending reached $4.9 trillion in 2023 (or ...
- Support Grows for Government-Run Health System December 9, 2024Gallup recently released results from its annual Health and Healthcare Poll, which are based on telephone interviews conducted November 6-20, 2024 with a random sample of 1,001 adults living in the US. The new data show that support for the US adopting a government-run healthcare system is growing. According to Gallup (Jeffrey M. Jones, “More in ...
- Nearly One Fourth of Working Age Adults Underinsured, New Report Shows November 22, 2024November 22, 2024 The Commonwealth Fund on November 21, 2024 released a new report on insurance coverage in the US. According to The State of Health Insurance Coverage in the U.S.: “• More than half (56%) of U.S. working-age adults were insured all year with coverage adequate to ensure affordable access to care. But there are soft ...
- World Health Systems Facts is @HealthSystemsFacts.bsky.social November 14, 2024November 14, 2024 World Health Systems Facts now has an account on the social media platform BlueSky, we’re @HealthSystemsFacts.bsky.social. Give us a follow! Health System OverviewHealth System RankingsHealth System OutcomesHealth ExpendituresHealth System FinancingCoverage and AccessCosts for ConsumersHealth System Resources and UtilizationPreventive Healthcare Healthcare WorkersHealthcare Workforce Education and TrainingLong-Term Services and SupportsHealth Information and Communications TechnologiesPharmaceuticalsPeople With DisabilitiesAgingSocial Determinants ...
- Nonprofit Hospitals and Charity Care November 7, 2024November 7, 2024 Two new reports throw light on the level of charity care actually provided by nonprofit hospitals in the US. As noted in US Nonprofit Hospitals Have Widely Varying Criteria To Decide Who Qualifies For Free And Discounted Charity Care (Luke Messac, Alexander T. Janke, Lisa Herrup Rogers, Imani Fonfield, Jared Walker, Elijah Rushbanks, Nora V. Becker, and Ge Bai, US Nonprofit ...
- Doximity Releases 2024 Physician Compensation Report October 16, 2024October 16, 2024 The physician networking, communications, and staffing company Doximity has released its 2024 Physician Compensation Report. According to Doximity, “Doximity found that after several years of modest or declining growth, the average pay for doctors increased nearly 6% in 2023, rebounding from a decline of 2.4% in 2022.” The report noted that “In 2023, the gender ...
- Commonwealth Fund Releases Newest Installment of its Mirror Mirror Series of National Health System Comparisons September 21, 2024September 21, 2024 The Commonwealth Fund has released the newest installment of its Mirror Mirror series, which compares various national health systems with the US. According to Mirror, Mirror 2024: A Portrait of the Failing U.S. Health System: “Key Findings: The top three countries are Australia, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, although differences in overall performance between ...
- Baker Institute Report Examines Hospital Prices, Costs, and Profits September 11, 2024Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy has issued a new report on hospital finances. The report, entitled Prices Versus Costs: Unpacking Rising US Hospital Profits, compares “the commercial operating costs, net patient revenue from commercial patients, and commercial operating profits of hospitals with different price levels to examine if higher prices are charged to ...
- Healthcare in the US Becoming Less Affordable July 23, 2024July 23, 2024 The ability of Americans to access affordable healthcare has declined in recent years, according to a new report by Gallup and the nonprofit West Health. According to the report, entitled Tracking Healthcare Affordability and Value: The West Health-Gallup Healthcare Affordability Index and Healthcare Value Index: “Cost security among U.S. adults has dipped to its lowest ...
- NY Times Investigative Series on Pharmacy Benefit Managers and High Prescription Drug Costs June 21, 2024June 21, 2024 The New York Times has begun a new series about how pharmacy benefit managers prioritize their own interests at the expense of patients, employers, and the public. Part one, entitled “The Opaque Industry Secretly Inflating Prices for Prescription Drugs,” was published June 21, 2024. According to the Times: “The three largest pharmacy benefit managers, ...
- Journalism Organizations Plan Webinar Series on Business of Healthcare February 14, 2024February 14, 2024 The Association of Health Care Journalists and Investigative Reporters & Editors, with the support of the NIHCM Foundation, are hosting a series of free webinars for journalists on the business of healthcare. The series is entitled “Follow the Money: The Business of Health Care.” The first webinar, “Using HospitalFinances.org and other tools to tell money stories,” ...
- US Healthcare Spending in 2022: $4.5 Trillion January 2, 2024January 2, 2024 According to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service (accessed January 2, 2024): “US health care spending grew 4.1 percent to reach $4.5 trillion in 2022, faster than the increase of 3.2 percent in 2021 but much slower than the rate of 10.6 percent in 2020. The growth in 2022 reflected strong ...
- Baker Institute: More Texans Insured Thanks To The ACA November 23, 2023November 23, 2023 Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy reports that more Texans have health insurance coverage now thanks to the Affordable Care Act. According to the Institute’s November 14 issue brief, entitled Looking at the Numbers: 10 Years of Data on the Affordable Care Act Reveal Benefits for Texans: “When the ACA was enacted in ...
- Update: Medicare Drug Price Negotiations Moving Forward October 19, 2023Negotiations between the federal government and the manufacturers of ten prescription drugs over prices for the Medicare program are moving forward. The American Hospital Association reported on Oct. 3, 2023 (“CMS: Makers of selected drugs agree to participate in Medicare price negotiation”): “The companies that make the first 10 Medicare Part D drugs selected to participate ...
- Medicare and Medicare Advantage October 15, 2023Medicare is a complicated system that mixes public and private insurance providers. As reported by the Scripps News Service on Oct. 21, 2022 (“Why Is Medicare So Complicated?”): “By the government’s last count in 2021, 64 million adults were enrolled in Medicare. But that doesn’t mean it’s simple to navigate. The Medicare maze is growing more ...
- Medicare Open Enrollment Season Runs October 15 – December 7 October 15, 2023Open enrollment season for Medicare is October 15 through December 7. According to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (last accessed Oct. 15, 2023): “Medicare health and drug plans can make changes each year—things like cost, coverage, and what providers and pharmacies are in their networks. October 15 to December 7 is when all ...
- List of Drugs For Which Medicare Will Negotiate Prices Announced September 1, 2023September 1, 2023 On August 30, 2023, Kaiser Health News reported (“5 Things to Know About the New Drug Pricing Negotiations”): “The Biden administration has picked the first 10 high-priced prescription drugs subject to federal price negotiations, taking a swipe at the powerful pharmaceutical industry. It marks a major turning point in a long-fought battle to control ...
- Learning From Others June 14, 2023June 14, 2023 Professor Aaron E. Carroll, MD, MS, is the Chief Health Officer of Indiana University. In a guest essay comparing the US health care system with the systems of five other nations that was published June 13, 2023 in the New York Times (“I Studied Five Countries’ Health Care Systems. We Need to Get ...
- Practice Consolidation and Access to Quality Care May 14, 2023May 14, 2023 The New York Times reports on a growing trend among healthcare organizations in the US, the impact of which may be of concern for patients and taxpayers. The Times reported on May 8, 2023 (“Corporate Giants Buy Up Primary Care Practices at Rapid Pace”) that: “CVS Health, with its sprawling pharmacy business and ownership ...
- Medicaid Re-Enrollment Begins Again April 1, 2023US states are restarting yearly Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) eligibility reviews. The Kaiser Family Foundation reported on February 22, 2023 (“10 Things to Know About the Unwinding of the Medicaid Continuous Enrollment Provision”): “Primarily due to the continuous enrollment provision, Medicaid enrollment has grown substantially compared to before the pandemic and the uninsured rate has dropped. ...
- The Existential Threat of Greed in US Health Care February 7, 2023February 7, 2023 The journal JAMA published a Viewpoint on Jan. 30, 2023 by Donald Berwick, MD, MPP, entitled Salve Lucrum: The Existential Threat of Greed in US Health Care. In it, Dr. Berwick contends: “Profit may have its place in motivating innovation and higher quality in health care, as in any industry. But kleptocapitalist behaviors that raise ...
- Oregon Becomes First US State To Guarantee Its Residents Access To Affordable Healthcare January 20, 2023January 20, 2023 In the November 2022 general election, Oregon voters narrowly approved Oregon Measure 111, the Right to Healthcare Amendment. The measure amended the state constitution, adding a guarantee of access to affordable healthcare for all Oregon residents. According to Ballotpedia, last accessed Jan. 20, 2023: “Ballot title “The ballot title was as follows:“Amends Constitution: State must ...
- Massive Savings Possible In US Health System October 21, 2021October 21, 2021 The management consulting firm McKinsey & Company has issued a new report estimating that administrative changes and efficiencies could save the US health system more than a quarter trillion dollars. As noted in a Viewpoint article published in JAMA on October 20: “The analysis dissected profit and loss statements of individual health care organizations, estimated ...
World Health Systems Facts is a project of the Real Reporting Foundation. We provide reliable statistics and other data from authoritative sources regarding health systems and policies in the US and sixteen other nations.
Page last updated March 29, 2025 by Doug McVay, Editor.