SDG 3 Good Health and Well Being - Dr S Rachel; Dr S Sudharsan; Mr J Johannes Samuel

The chapters in this book raise critical questions in the thematic areas, and it is clear that they are all deeply intertwined. Taken together, they illustrate that good health and well-being are not goals that can be achieved in a vacuum or in a specific sector, but are instead foundational to sustainable development. Health access and quality, disease prevention and response, mental health and well-being, and healthy ageing are not mutually exclusive goals, but instead influence and shape each other in complex ways.

The chapters in this book illustrate that access to care without attention to quality will only serve to perpetuate inequality, as well as investments in high-level services without attention to prevention. The recognition of mental health as a part of overall health also challenges a very narrow focus on illness, and instead advocates for a more holistic approach. The emphasis on healthy ageing continues to illustrate this perspective, and it is important to remember that development should not only be measured by the length of life, but also by its vitality.

This book is part of the Interdisciplinary Book Publication Drive 2026, an initiative of the Office of Research & Development, Madras Christian College, reaffirming our dedication to academic scholarship and the UN's Sustainable Development Goals.