[2] SDG 3 aims to achieve universal health coverage and equitable access of healthcare services to all men and women.

Neonatal mortality was highest in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia which post 27 and 25 deaths per 1,000 live births, respectively, in 2019.

[7][8] Significant steps have been made in increasing life expectancy and reducing some of the common causes of child and maternal mortality.

[5] Key strategies for meeting SDG 3 will be to reduce adolescent pregnancy (which is strongly linked to gender equality), provide better data for all women and girls, and achieve universal coverage of skilled birth attendants.

[11] The full text of Target 3.4 is: "By 2030, reduce by one-third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.

"[9] The full text of Target 3.6 is: "By 2020, halve (50% less) the number of global deaths and injuries from road traffic accidents.

In countries with great success, such as Sweden that boasts a 66% reduction in injury and deaths from 1990 to 2015, tough government regulation has been key.

[16]: 35 The full text of Target 3.9 is: "By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination.

[11]: 6 The full text of Target 3.a is: "Strengthen the implementation of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in all countries, as appropriate.

[16]: 36 The full text of Target 3.b is: "Support the research and development of vaccines and medicines for the communicable and non‑communicable diseases that primarily affect developing countries, provide access to affordable essential medicines and vaccines, in accordance with the Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health, which affirms the right of developing countries to use to the full the provisions in the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights regarding flexibilities to protect public health, and, in particular, provide access to medicines for all.

SDG 3 aims to achieve universal health coverage, including access to essential medicines and vaccines.

[22] The other five custodians for SDG 3 indicators, other than WHO, are: An annual report is prepared by the Secretary-General of the United Nations evaluating the progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.

[23] A 2018 study in the journal Nature found that while "nearly all African countries demonstrated improvements for children under 5 years old for stunting, wasting, and underweight... much, if not all of the continent will fail to meet the Sustainable Development Goal target—to end malnutrition by 2030".

As the pandemic spread worldwide, the lockdown had over 70 countries putting a hold on various health services such as child vaccination, family planning, and cancer screening.

[27] Responses to most non-COVID-19 diseases were either neglected or interrupted during the pandemic, and healthcare systems were in turn stretched beyond their capacity to provide adequate care.

This reversed decades of improvement, and has reiterated the need for governments to prioritize issues of healthy living and well-being and work towards the goal of SDG 3.