Facing a Paradigm Shift in the Sustainable Development Goal Era.

Abstract

The Sustainable Development Goals challenge us to step beyond traditional development approaches and to consider strategies that are evidence informed and innovative. The concepts are familiar; themes aligned with Harmonization, Primary Healthcare, Leadership, Public Private Partnerships, Community Engagement, and Integrated Technologies. However, to optimize resources and overcome today's challenge with sustainable solutions, we must capture lessons learned and apply evidence developed to inform and expand the thinking to shape and inform new paradigms. The tools, the experience, and the evidence are at our finger-tips. We must hold ourselves accountable to turn that rudder and hold the line so that the ship can advance toward universal health coverage that ensures healthy lives and promotes wellbeing for all at all ages. Health is where economic well-being, labour opportunities, educational advancement, gender equity and access to food, water, clean air come together to advance the wellbeing of all. This juncture is most significant at community level, where health systems intertwine with the social and cultural fabric and health workers stand at the interface between the health system and the people it serves. In these manuscripts, thought leaders in the health sector share evidence and experience to help us consider how we will use this intersection to push all nations to achieve all the SDGs.