9. Way forward
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To date, overall efforts to achieve sustainable development and improved health have not been successful enough. A major commitment will be required to allow history to judge this generation as the one that turned the corner on improving the quality of life and health of all the world’s people without increasing the use of our natural resources beyond the earth’s capacity.
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Significant changes will be required if we are to reduce poverty, alter patterns of globalisation and environmental degradation, and achieve provision of effective health services so that the resultant improved health can enhance sustainable development, and sustainable development can improve health in a virtuous cycle. The negative macroeconomic impacts on sustainable development and on health will need to be addressed.
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The measures required to achieve sustainable economic, social and environmental development are manifold and will require co-ordinated intersectoral action. Programmes for the reduction of disease burden and for improved health services will also require massive scaling-up if they are to play their part in enhancing well being on our planet.
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