Progress and challenges in achieving noncommunicable diseases targets for the sustainable development goals

Abstract

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted by the United Nations in 2015 recognizes noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) as a major public health challenge. Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 includes target 3.4 to reduce premature NCD mortality by one-third by 2030. This review article analyzes the progress towards the attainment of targets within 3.4, the gaps in meeting the targets, and implementation challenges correlated with those gaps. A literature review was performed in September 2020 to identify the published literature and data discussing the SDGs and NCDs, its progress since 2015, and the associated challenges. The analysis reveals SDG target 3.4 is interrelated to at least nine SDGs. There have been many positive SDG initiatives, but the progress has been slow. Data from various countries show that only two out of the ten NCD progress indicators are being met by at least half of the 176 countries who signed the SDGs. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is expected to further aggravate the prevalence and hinder the progress towards the achievement of goals and the targets of the SDGs. The next decade is critical to advance progress on reducing NCDs across countries. The article concludes with a commentary and recommended actions. A combination of prevention, early detection, and treatment are the key to achieve the SDG 3.4 targets. Increased funding and commitments at international and national levels are required to bring about the transformative changes.

Keywords: NCD targets; SDG 3.4; chronic diseases; intergovernmental organizations; multi sectoral collaboration; noncommunicable diseases; sustainable development goals.