April 2013: The World We Want 2015 Platform posted the “Health Global Meeting Outcome Report” from the High-level Dialogue on Health in the Post-2015 Development Agenda, which took place in Gaborone, Botswana from 4-6 March 2013. The report presents key messages on: lessons learned from the health-related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs); health in the post-2015 development agenda; health priorities from 2015 to 2030; framing the future health agenda, including principles, goals and indicators; and positioning health in the post-2015 development agenda.

According to the report, participants suggested an overall health development goal, “Maximizing health at all stages of life,” and proposed two health sector goals: accelerating progress on the health MDGs; and reducing the burden of major non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

Participants agreed on successes and shortcomings of the health MDGs, recognizing, inter alia, successes in reducing child mortality, controlling or eliminating malaria through vaccine programmes and expanding access to antiretroviral drugs. Participants also noted that the late inclusion of the MDG target on universal access to reproductive health services in 2005 slowed implementation of interventions on maternal and child mortality and gender equity.

Participants said the post-2015 development agenda should, inter alia: set more ambitious health targets; emphasize equity; address reproductive health and sexual rights; and include targets and indicators for each life stage, from newborn to senior. Participants further recommended that the post-2015 development agenda: articulate and support synergies between health and other goals to ensure policy coherence and cross-sectoral action; and address macroeconomic issues, including global trade agreements, and power relations that impact health, inequity and poverty. Participants also debated universal health coverage as an outcome or a means for achieving health goals.

The dialogue was the culmination of a global thematic consultation on health in the post-2015 development agenda that took place from November 2012 through January 2013. The consultation, which was co-led by the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) with the support of the Governments of Botswana and Sweden, included: more than 150,000 participants in the online consultation; over 1500 participants in 13 face-to-face consultations in Africa, Asia, Europe, North America and South America; and over 100 submitted papers. Dialogue participants are expected to continue collaborating to monitor and review progress on the post-2015 agenda and on targets and indicators. [Publication: Health Global Meeting Outcome Report] [Consultation on Health] [IISD RS Story on Dialogue]