Investments to achieve the health targets in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) could prevent 97 million premature deaths globally between now and 2030, and add as much as 8.4 years of life expectancy in some countries.

The SDG Health Price Tag estimates the costs and benefits of progressively expanding health services in order to reach 16 SDG health targets in 67 low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) that account for 75% of the world’s population.

The analysis shows that most countries can afford the investments needed, but the poorest nations will continue to need assistance to reach the targets.

The SDG Health Price Tag, published today in The Lancet Global Health, estimates the costs and benefits of progressively expanding health services in order to reach 16 SDG health targets in 67 LMIC that account for 75% of the world’s population.

The analysis shows that investments to expand services towards universal health coverage and the other SDG health targets could prevent 97 million premature deaths globally between now and 2030, and add as much as 8.4 years of life expectancy in some countries.

While most countries can afford the investments needed, the poorest nations will need assistance to reach the targets.

"Universal health coverage is ultimately a political choice. It is the responsibility of every country and national government to pursue it," Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, wrote in a commentary accompanying the paper in The Lancet Global Health.

Read full press release here