Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41629068›Full record

SynthesisBMJ global health2026

Implementation of health and health-related sustainable development goals: progress, challenges and opportunities-a systematic literature review update.

Maya Kshatriya, Ruby Syal, Daina Als, Oviya Muralidharan, Busayo Akindole, Zahra A Padhani, Jai Das, Zulfiqar A Bhutta

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMJ global health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Maya Kshatriya *Centre for Global Child Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.ORCID 0000-0002-0375-1251
Ruby Syal *Centre for Global Child Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.ORCID 0009-0006-1110-4341
Daina AlsCentre for Global Child Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.ORCID 0000-0003-1569-4511
Oviya MuralidharanCentre for Global Child Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.ORCID 0000-0002-5214-6103
Busayo AkindoleCentre for Global Child Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Zahra A PadhaniSchool of Public Health, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Jai DasDepartment of Paediatrics and Child Health, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.ORCID 0000-0002-2966-7162
Zulfiqar A BhuttaCentre for Global Child Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Zulfiqar.bhutta@sickkids.ca.ORCID 0000-0003-0637-599X

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionA prior systematic review assessed progress in health and health-related sustainable development goals (HHSDGs) from 2015 to 2019, identifying an important need for countries to strengthen implementation of multisectoral work, capacity building, financial stability and data availability. We undertook an updated systematic review to assess additional progress, challenges and opportunities for HHSDG implementation from 2019 to 2025, including the pandemic periods. This update aims to assess where countries are presently in HHSDG implementation and if further recommendations can be made in the final stretch to the 2030 targets.

methodsWe followed a comparable comprehensive search strategy as the first review, focusing on implementation and acceleration strategies for HHSDGs. We undertook a qualitative synthesis from peer-reviewed and grey literature for specific databases, including studies and reports published from June 2019 to January 2025.

resultsA total of 192 publications were included in the review of which 150 provided national-level information and 42 provided multicountry or regional information. Findings suggest a high level of political commitment in most countries and many HHSDG efforts being aligned with existing national development strategies. There was a noteworthy shift towards decentralised, subnational approaches to provide contextually relevant interventions. Multisectoral, multistakeholder, integrated approaches for implementation are increasing and proving to be effective. Diverse monitoring and evaluation strategies were employed, and (cross-country) knowledge sharing was instrumental to SDG policy and programme planning. Service disruptions incurred by the COVID-19 pandemic, lack of quality data and obtaining sustainable funding were frequently cited challenges to implementation.

conclusionsEnsuring continuous financial investments and strengthening data availability are essential to accelerate HHSDG implementation. Recommendations for progress include strengthening primary healthcare, fostering multisectoral collaboration and addressing deep-rooted societal perceptions around gender inequity. Future research should examine the interplay of multiple SDGs, and the impact of factors such as cost-effective cross-regional approaches for project implementation.

Indexed as

Global HealthGoalsSustainable DevelopmentCOVID-19HumansPandemicsSARS-CoV-2Global HealthSystematic review

Identifiers

PMID41629068
PMCPMC12878203

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.