Sustainability and Health

Abstract

Purpose: Sustainability is defined as meeting the needs of the current population in a way that does not interfere with meeting the needs of future generations. In terms of health services and system, this definition also includes long-term health by improving the quality of human life without harming the environment and depleting available resources. Indicators related to health have turned into a sustainable development goal as well as revealing the health-related status of the individual and therefore the society. In this context, it is important to set out the sustainable development goals related to health and to make corrective measures or improvements by determining the current situation. The aim of the study; It is aimed to evaluate the compatibility of these targets by comparing the targets and indicators within the scope of health-related sustainable development objectives created by the Presidency of the Republic of Turkey Strategy and Budget Department and the targets within the scope of the sustainability objectives of the 2019-2023 strategic plan created by the Ministry of Health. In addition to this, it is also aimed to determine the current status of Turkey in the field of health and to evaluate the future situation with the indexes and indicators in the annual sustainable development goals evaluation report.

Method: As a study method, the document review method was used; The document review method continued with the stages of reaching the document, checking its originality, understanding the documents, analyzing the data and using the data.

Findings: As a result of the study, it was seen that Turkey's sustainable development goals within the scope of healthy and quality life and goals related to sustainability in health were determined in harmony. In addition, when the sustainable development goals evaluation report published in 2022 is examined; The average performance of Turkey in achieving its health-related goals according to sustainable development goals is over 75%. In addition, Turkey ranks 71st among OECD countries in terms of overall performance towards the achievement of sustainable development goals.

Conclusion: Although it is seen that Turkey's average performance towards achieving its health-related goals according to sustainable development goals is high; When the indicators and trends of sustainable development goals related to health are examined, it is concluded that there are great difficulties in the current situation within the scope of the aim of 'healthy and quality life', but there is also a development trend. Although the overall progress is remarkable, considering Turkey's overall performance towards achieving its sustainable development goals, it has been seen that it needs to provide significant improvements in the future.

Keywords: Sustainability, sustainability in health, sustainable development goals, health policy, strategic plan