Global health policy in Sustainable Development Goals

Abstract

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) represent global policy goals in contrast to Millenium Development Goals (MDGs), which had developmental focus. This is the global potential of SDGs for global health policy. However, the large number of goals bear the risk of prioritisation between different goals and broad global frameworks and specific targets may not be useful in shaping policy guidance and global approaches in policy areas, where we already have a global institutional and normative presence. In contrast to some other global social policy areas, global health policy has also something to lose. SDGs are thus likely to be better for global health in other policies, than for global health policy priorities, institutions and practice. This is a particular concern for the global health policy role of the World Health Organisation, global health policies seeking normative action as well as for such health policy priorities, which contrast or conflict with other policy areas or strong corporate interests. This has particular relevance to multistakeholder partnerships and the role of private sector in implementation of SDGs.