Annual report on monitoring progress on UHC and health-related SDGs

This is the sixth annual report on progress in universal health coverage (UHC) and the health related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The report presents the latest data on the health-related SDGs and Thirteenth General Programme of Work (GPW 13) target indicators. On UHC, essential service coverage has improved in the past decade. However, the progress has not been fast enough and further, it is at risk of being reversed by COVID-19. Most countries in the Region have reported that the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the ability of health systems to provide uninterrupted health services. There has been an overall increase in regional life expectancy and healthy life expectancy at birth as a result of improvements in the control of several communicable diseases, and maternal and child mortality. Progress continues to be made in improving reproductive, maternal, neonatal and child health, and in reducing the spread and occurrence of most communicable diseases. Overall, child mortality in the Region has declined by 73% between 1990 and 2019. Five Member States have reached the SDG target for under-5 mortality and neonatal mortality. There has been a decline in the incidence of malaria and HIV and related deaths. However, tuberculosis (TB) remains a concern, and the Region continues to have the highest mortality from TB. Despite a decrease in premature mortality from noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), this is not rapid enough to meet the SDG targets. These challenges emphasize the need for strong disease prevention and control programmes to accelerate Member States’ progress in meeting national and global targets.This year’s report also features trajectories up to 2030 for selected health-related SDG indicators based on past trends. Additionally, there is a dedicated section on health inequities. This section will feature use of disaggregated data on reducing equity at the national or district level.This Working Paper was presented to the High-Level Preparatory Meeting held in July 2021 for its review and recommendations. The HLP Meeting reviewed the paper and made the following recommendations for the consideration of the Seventy-fourth Session of the Regional Committee:Actions by Member StatesContinue to develop and implement policies, strategies and actions to advance UHC and the health-related SDGs, while adapting to service delivery disruptions and the overall public health impacts due to COVID-19.Maintain and enhance monitoring of UHC and the health-related SDGs in the context of COVID-19 and beyond, within national monitoring and evaluation frameworks to strengthen accountability and transparency.Enhance institutional capacity to compile, share, disaggregate, analyze, disseminate and use reliable UHC and health-related SDG data and indicators, particularly to monitor trends, assess health inequalities and take corrective measures.Actions by WHOContinue producing the annual report, updating the report’s core country data on UHC and all other health-related SDG targets, as well as highlight the selected emerging trends and themes in each report.Enhance translation and analysis of data and indicators and improve the use of national data and indicators for decision-making through cross-country cooperation, training, workshops and courses, and evaluation and the sharing of experiences.This Working Paper with the HLP Meeting recommendations is submitted to the Seventy-fourth Session of the WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia for its consideration and decision.