Access to high-quality health services critically depends on the size, skill-mix, competency, geographic distribution and productivity of the health workforce. Health workers, and in particular doctors and nurses, are the cornerstone of health systems.

Consultations with doctors are an important measure of overall access to health services, since most illnesses can be managed in primary care without hospitalisation, and a doctor consultation often precedes a hospital admission.

The need to prevent diseases, diagnose early and treat effectively under the Universal Health Coverage mandate of the Sustainable Development Goals 5 calls for safe, effective, and appropriate medical.

Hospitals in most countries account for the largest part of overall fixed investment. Beside quality of hospital care (see indicator “In-hospital mortality following acute myocardial infarction and stroke” in ), it is important to use resources efficiently and assure a co-ordinated access to hospital care.

Antenatal care, delivery attended by skilled health professionals and access to health facilities for delivery are important for the health of both mothers and their babies as they reduce the risk of birth complications and infections (see indicators “Reproductive health”, “Preterm births and low birthweight” and “Infant and young child feeding” in ). WHO currently recommends a minimum of four antenatal visits, and antenatal care coverage has been monitored to ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services, including for family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programmes by 2030 (Sustainable Development Goal 3.7).

Basic care for infants and children includes promoting and supporting early and exclusive breastfeeding (see indicator “Infant and young child feeding” in ), identifying conditions requiring additional care and counselling on when to take an infant and young child to a health facility. There are several cost-effective preventive and curative services for leading causes of childhood morbidity and mortality worldwide. These include vitamin A supplementation, measles vaccination, oral rehydration therapy (ORT) for diarrhoea, and antibiotic treatment for acute respiratory infection (ARI). Access to these services leads to better infant and child health.

For the first time, world leaders have recognized the promotion of mental health and well-being, and the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, as health priorities within the global development agenda. The inclusion of mental health and substance abuse in the Sustainable Development Agenda, which was adopted at the United Nations General Assembly in September 2015, is likely to have a positive impact on communities and countries where millions of people will receive much needed help. A particular prevention priority in the area of mental health concerns suicide, which accounted for an estimated 793 000 deaths in 2016 (WHO, 2018a). Target 3.2 of the Mental Health Action Plan 2013-2020, calls for a 10% reduction in the rate of suicide in countries by 2020. The UN Sustainable Development Goals include target 3.4 to address non-communicable diseases and mental health with an indicator to reduce suicide mortality by a third by 2030.