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DESK REVIEWS | 04.03.02. (How) does the policy reflect aspects of the sustainable development goals?

DESK REVIEW | 04.03.02. (How) does the policy reflect aspects of the sustainable development goals?

The documents focus on keeping people as independent as possible, on implementing strategies to prevent diseases, and on adopting a person-centred care to promote quality of life and well-being (Brazilian Ministry of Health, 2018e; United Nations, 2018).

References:

Brazilian Ministry of Health. (2018e). Orientações Técnicas para a Implementação de Linha de Cuidado para Atenção integral à Saúde da Pessoa Idosa no Sistema Único de Saúde—SUS. Ministério da Saúde do Brasil.

United Nations. (2018). Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In A New Era in Global Health. https://doi.org/10.1891/9780826190123.ap02

 

The Mental Health Review Report (MHRR) and the Elderly Services Programme Plan (ESPP) can reflect one of the sustainable development goals, which is “Goal 3 – Good health and well-being: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages”. This emphasises on putting more efforts to fully eradicate a wide range of non-communicable diseases and address the growing burden of different health issues, including child health, maternal health, HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases. Two of the 13 targets stated in Goal 3 are related to MHRR and ESPP (United Nations, n.d.).

  • “Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services and access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all.”
  • “Strengthen the capacity of all countries, in particular developing countries, for early warning, risk reduction and management of national and global health risks.”
References:

United Nations. (n.d.). Good Health and Well-Being: Why it Matters.

India is a signatory to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The 3rd goal focuses on improving health and wellbeing of people of all ages (Sustainable Development Solutions Network, n.d.). As part of the health goal, target 3.4 asks countries by 2030 to reduce premature mortality from NCDs by one third “through prevention, treatment, and promotion of mental health and well-being” (Sustainable Development Solutions Network, n.d.). However, in India there is no national dementia policy and, as a result, these aspects of the SDGs are not reflected in a dementia specific plan. Although, programmes/acts such as the National Programme for Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases, Diabetes and Stroke (NPCDCS) (addressing risk factors for dementia) (MoHFW, 2017b) and the Mental Healthcare Act (National Mental Health Programme, 2017) complement the goals of the SDGs.

References:

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. (2017b). National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS).

National Mental Health Programme. (2017). National Mental Health Programme. Available from: https://www.nhp.gov.in/national-mental-health-programme_pg

Sustainable Development Solutions Network. (n.d.). Indicators and a Monitoring Framework: Launching a data revolution for the Sustainable Development Goals. Available from: https://indicators.report/targets/3-4/

 

The national plan reflects some aspects of the sustainable development goals, particularly goal number 3 (good health and wellbeing), 4 (quality education), 11 (sustainable communities), and 17 (partnerships for the goals), although these may not be explicitly stated (Ministry of Health Republic of Indonesia, 2015b). In 2015, the United Nations declared the prevention and treatment of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and the promotion of physical and mental health and well-being with behavioural, developmental, and neurological disorders as one of their key goals in achieving sustainable development (United Nations, 2015). Indonesia’s national plan addressed the challenges of a growing ageing population and increasing number of people living with dementia through seven action steps.

 References:

Ministry of Health Republic of Indonesia. (2015b). National Strategy: Management of Alzheimer and Other Dementia Diseases: Towards Healthy and Productive Older Persons. Ministry of Health Republic of Indonesia.

United Nations. (2015). Goal 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/health/

No data was sourced due to a lack of dementia policy in Jamaica.

Although not openly mentioned, the plan appears to refer to Goal 3 which refers to ensuring healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of 17 interconnected goals outlined by the United Nations (UN) to achieve a more sustainable future for all people by addressing global challenges including poverty, inequality, and climate change (United nations, n.d.). Both the NZDF and Dementia plan reflect aspects of the SDGs, including:

  • Good health and wellbeing with a focus on dementia prevention and living well with dementia;
  • Reduce inequalities and discrimination against those with dementia and their carers;
  • Peace, Justice, and Strong institutions by standing up for the rights of those with dementia;
  • Sustainable cities.
References:

United Nations. (n.d.). Sustainable development goals. UNSDGs website. Available from: https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/.

Not applicable as there is no dementia-specific policy or plan for South Africa.