Over the past 15 years, reproductive, maternal and child health have improved greatly. The incidence of communicable diseases has declined, as have premature deaths from non-communicable diseases. Health services have been upgraded through better maternal and reproductive care, targeted disease elimination and control programmes, including broader treatment and vaccination coverage, and increased funding to support medical research and basic health in developing countries. To meet the 2030 targets, however, these interventions need to be expanded, particularly in regions with the highest burden of disease.