PREFACE n 2015 the Millennium Development Goals(MDGs) come to the end of their term and a post-2015 agenda, comprising 17 Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs), takes their place. We stand on the threshold of a new era. this is an important moment to look back at the trends that have defined health-related development under the mdgs, noting achievements, highlighting lessons learned, drawing attention to unfinished business, and looking forward to the challenges we must now face While progress towards the mDgs has been impressive in many ways, much work remains to be done In health, unprecedented progress has been made in reducing maternal and child mortality and in the fight against infectious diseases, even thoug several global and many country MDG targets were not met. The unfinished agenda needs to be addressed, but more importantly the dramatic progress paves the way λL心 for more ambitious achievements by 2030. Similarly important is addressing other significant, ongoing public health challenges that were left out of the MDgs altogether, Dr Margaret Chan notable among them the challenge of acute epidemic diseases, disasters and conflict situations, the burgeoning epidemic of noncommunicable diseases and mental health World Health Organization disorders and large inequalities in all parts of the world The SD Gs address many of these issues head on, setting a new health goal ("Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages")with a broad set of targets. The SDgs also significantly broaden the scope of action with 17 goals, covering a wide range of human activity across the three sustainable development dimensions(economic, social and environmental): people, planet, prosperity, peace and partnership, the five Ps of the new agenda, an agenda for all countries Fundamental to achieving the SDGs will be the recognition that eradicating poverty and inequality creating inclusive economic growth, preserving the planet and improving population health are not just linked but interdependent. This has profound implications for development strategy, many of which will only be revealed as we move forward. But some seem fairly clear at the outset, including the fact that silo-based, vertical approaches to development will have to give way to broader, cross-cutting approaches coordinated around and aligned with countries' needs and priorities By taking a more integrated approach to development the SDgs present us with an opportunity to advance, seizing opportunities to collaborate and exploit synergies. However, there are clearly challenges too. For example, in order to take on cross-cutting issues, it will be necessary to achieve far greater intersectoral coherence and coordination of effort To achieve that end, a new impetus will have to be given to global and regional partnerships and collaborations, with a focus on country action A great deal has been achieved since 2000. However, progress can easily be reversed if we do not maintain our commitment to making the world a better place for all, leaving no one behind. Key to achieving that vision will be focusing our efforts intelligently, and setting clear, measurable goals that national governments and development partners can support. In health the target on universal health coverage(UHC) provides the platform for integrated action across all 13 health targets Rather than being seen as one target among many it is my belief that UHC should be seen as the linchpin of the health development agenda, not only underpinning a more sustainable approach to the achievement of the other health targets, but allowing for a balance between them relevant to all, it can now be monitored within an accepted framework which ill allow for target setting and measurement of progress. It is, I believe, our way forward. This report is a first step in a series of actions that i am taking to make Who fit to fully support the implementation of the sdg agenda HEALTH IN 2015: FROM MDGS TO SDGsHEALTH IN 2015: FROM MDGs TO SDGs iii PREFACE I n 2015 the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) come to the end of their term, and a post-2015 agenda, comprising 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), takes their place. We stand on the threshold of a new era. This is an important moment to look back at the trends that have defined health-related development under the MDGs, noting achievements, highlighting lessons learned, drawing attention to unfinished business, and looking forward to the challenges we must now face. While progress towards the MDGs has been impressive in many ways, much work remains to be done. In health, unprecedented progress has been made in reducing maternal and child mortality and in the fight against infectious diseases, even though several global and many country MDG targets were not met. The unfinished agenda needs to be addressed, but more importantly the dramatic progress paves the way for more ambitious achievements by 2030. Similarly important is addressing other significant, ongoing public health challenges that were left out of the MDGs altogether, notable among them the challengse of acute epidemic diseases, disasters and conflict siituations, the burgeoning epidemic of noncommunicable diseases and mental health disorders and large inequalities in all parts of the world. The SDGs address many of these issues head on, setting a new health goal (“Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages”) with a broad set of targets. The SDGs also significantly broaden the scope of action with 17 goals, covering a wide range of human activity across the three sustainable development dimensions (economic, social and environmental): people, planet, prosperity, peace and partnership, the five Ps of the new agenda, an agenda for all countries. Fundamental to achieving the SDGs will be the recognition that eradicating poverty and inequality, creating inclusive economic growth, preserving the planet and improving population health are not just linked but interdependent. This has profound implications for development strategy, many of which will only be revealed as we move forward. But some seem fairly clear at the outset, including the fact that silo-based, vertical approaches to development will have to give way to broader, cross-cutting approaches coordinated around and aligned with countries’ needs and priorities. By taking a more integrated approach to development the SDGs present us with an opportunity to advance, seizing opportunities to collaborate and exploit synergies. However, there are clearly challenges too. For example, in order to take on cross-cutting issues, it will be necessary to achieve far greater intersectoral coherence and coordination of effort. To achieve that end, a new impetus will have to be given to global and regional partnerships and collaborations, with a focus on country action. A great deal has been achieved since 2000. However, progress can easily be reversed if we do not maintain our commitment to making the world a better place for all, leaving no one behind. Key to achieving that vision will be focusing our efforts intelligently, and setting clear, measurable goals that national governments and development partners can support. In health the target on universal health coverage (UHC) provides the platform for integrated action across all 13 health targets. Rather than being seen as one target among many, it is my belief that UHC should be seen as the linchpin of the health development agenda, not only underpinning a more sustainable approach to the achievement of the other health targets, but allowing for a balance between them. Relevant to all, it can now be monitored within an accepted framework which will allow for target setting and measurement of progress. It is, I believe, our way forward. This report is a first step in a series of actions that I am taking to make WHO fit to fully support the implementation of the SDG agenda. Dr Margaret Chan Director-General World Health Organization