/SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being

The title of SDG 3, “good health and wellbeing”, sums up all health-related aspects which enable us to live healthy and foster general wellbeing. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as a “state of complete physical, mental and social well-being” (WHO constitution) – consequently, health is more than the absence of disease or age-related ailment. Being “of good health” is not merely important on an individual level, it is rather fundamental for the development of a prospering society with all its social and economic requirements. The SDG 3 targets cover an extensive range of tasks regarding the global challenges in healthcare policymaking, which include combating maternal and child mortality, infectious diseases, chronic diseases, substance abuse, traffic fatalities and injuries as well as the improvement of sexual- and reproductive health care, health care in general and the reduction of disease and mortality due to environmental pollution. Shortcomings in the public health system are directly related to negative effects on our society, economy and public safety. However, resilience to health-related risks as well as a strong healthcare network are fundamental for building and sustaining a prosperous, sustainable and robust society.

SDG 3 Targets:*

3.1 By 2030, reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births.

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.

3.3 By 2030, end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases and other communicable diseases.

3.4 By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.

3.5 Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol.

3.6 By 2020, halve the number of global deaths and injuries from road traffic accidents.

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.

3.8 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.

3.9 By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination.

3.a Strengthen the implementation of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in all countries, as appropriate.

3.b Support the research and development of vaccines and medicines for the communicable and noncommunicable 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.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.d Strengthen the capacity of all countries, in particular developing countries, for early warning, risk reduction and management of national and global health risks.

In Austria we are privileged to have an outstanding healthcare-system. A broad spectrum of healthcare services like a large network of hospital bound as well as resident healthcare providers is available, easily accessible and free of cost for the society. Albeit these are excellent conditions compared to international standards, the Austrian healthcare system is currently facing considerable challenges, which are also represented by the targets of SDG 3. They include, inter alia, the ongoing SARS-CoV-2-pandemic but also increasing the efficiency of our healthcare system in general, improvements in disease prevention and the protection and conservation of a healthy environment. Therefore, “good health and wellbeing” is not a challenge on an individual level, but a task for our society as a whole. The accomplishment of all SDG 3 targets in Austria is a requirement for the establishment of a framework which enables the individual to maintain good health and wellbeing without structural external restrictions. Within the project UniNEtZ, SDG 3 is coordinated by the Medical University Innsbruck; further participating institutions are the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna and the University for Music and Performing Arts Vienna. Interdisciplinary teams are producing a set of recommendations on potential actions which can be taken in order to achieve individual targets as well as the SDG 3 and the Agenda 2030. We have put together a team that includes specialists in all kinds of medical professions as well as experts in healthcare economics, disease prevention, environmental toxicology and spatial and traffic engineering.

(based on the options report to be published)

The options elaborated by the SDG groups are to serve as a means of communicating to the federal government which concrete options can be set by Austria in order to implement the 2030 Agenda with its 17 Sustainable Development Goals. The options report will be published on 02.12.2021.

• Option 3.1: Everyday movement
• Option 3.2: Reduction of the average calorie intake by 500 kcal per day and achieve a diet according to the recommendations of the DGE / ÖGE
• Option 3.3: Protection and promotion of mental health
• Option 3.4: Systematic and systematic consideration of health impacts in all decisions: Timely and forward-looking prevention processes and structures.
  
• Option 3.5: Preventing excessive alcohol consumption
  
• Option 3.6: Passage for pedestrians and cyclists
  
• Option 3.7: Close public transport stations
  
• Option 3.8: Nudging for safe road transport
  
• Option 3.9: Digitization of road safety systems
  
• Option 3.10: Ensure sexual and reproductive health care for all
  
• Option 3.11: Expansion of ELGA
  
• Option 3.12: E-health - digitization of medical services
  
• Option 3.13: New financing models for health services
  
• Option 3.14: Strengthening prevention and health promotion
  
• Option 3.15: Reducing household and ambient air pollution
  
• Option 3.16: Improving water protection with a focus on agrochemicals