Making progress on global health will need high-quality evidence

"In 2015, the international community made a historic pledge to end epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and other communicable diseases by 2030. Nations committed to achieving universal health coverage, and promised to ensure that everyone, everywhere had access to safe and affordable medicines and vaccines. These pledges formed the third goal in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which focuses on healthy lives and well-being for all."

"There were fewer deaths among newborns and children under five. New HIV infections declined, and the proportion of the world's population with access to universal health care continued to rise, albeit more slowly than before 2015. But, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, wars and other factors, average global life expectancy is now declining for the first time in decades."

"It is unacceptable that more isn't being done - and more can be done. We at Nature - and journals across the Nature Portfolio - remain determined to play what small part we can in progressing all of the SDGs. The goals are an important focus for our publisher, Springer Nature, too. Today sees the launch of a new journal, Nature Health, with the mission of "bridging the implementation gap from health research to policy and practice"."

In 2015 global leaders pledged to end epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and other communicable diseases by 2030 and committed to universal health coverage and access to safe, affordable medicines and vaccines. Early progress included reductions in newborn and under-five mortality, declines in new HIV infections, and rising access to universal health care. The COVID-19 pandemic, wars and other factors have reversed gains, causing falling global life expectancy, polio resurgence and rising malaria cases. Nature and Springer Nature commit to advance the SDGs. A new journal, Nature Health, will prioritize research that bridges implementation from health research to policy and practice, focusing on real-world impact and resource-limited settings.

Read at Nature