Goal 3 addresses all major health priorities: reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health; communicable and non-communicable diseases; universal health coverage; and access for all to safe, effective, quality and affordable medicines and vaccines. It also calls for deeper investments in research and development, health financing and health risk reduction and management to prevent needless suffering from preventable diseases and premature death.
Nuclear medicine and radiology are indispensable for the early detection and treatment of non-communicable diseases,particularly cancer. Linear accelerators and cobalt-60 sources provide life-saving radiotherapy, while PET and SPECT scans allow for precise diagnostic imaging to guide medical interventions. Additionally, stable isotope techniques are used to assess nutritional status and the effectiveness of nutrition programs, helping to combat both hidden hunger (micronutrient deficiencies) and childhood obesity in developing nations.
