The role of government in supporting health
Updated: 30 September 2022
Manuela Leporesi
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Credits
Tips and information
- It is the responsibility of government to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals in their country
- It is the role of government to support health and well-being, including to:
- Provide good-quality health services, that are accessible and affordable to all who need them.
- Ensure policies, frameworks and standards for health and well-being are in place and acted on
- Ensure health services are well funded and run by professionals who are well trained
- Ensure roads and infrastructure are in place and in good condition so people can travel to use health and social services
- Make sure the cost of using services do not put people at risk of financial harm
- Give benefits to people who need them as this can help to protect against financial harm
- Enforce laws to protect people from violence and other unfair treatment
- Make sure people have the opportunity to be part of making decisions, such as about health services
Related health tips and information
Related rights
Videos & infographics
All →Question and Answers
All →Factsheets
Publications
All →Report of the 11th Meeting of the WHO Strategic and Technical Advisory Group of Experts for Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health and Nutrition, 10–12 June 2025
Accelerating progress towards health-related Sustainable Development Goals
Framework to implement a life course approach in practice
Joint evaluation of the Global Action Plan for Healthy Lives and Well-being for All: Report
Reports
All →Joint evaluation of the Global Action Plan for Healthy Lives and Well-being for All (SDG3-GAP): Management response
Joint Evaluability Assessment of the Global Action Plan for Healthy Lives and Well-being for All (2020): Management response update
Joint Evaluability Assessment of the Global Action Plan for Healthy Lives and Well-being for All (2020): Management response
Joint Evaluability Assessment of the Global Action Plan for Healthy Lives and Well-being for All (2020): Report
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