The Role Of Assisted Reproductive Technologies In Promoting Sustainable Development Goals

Abstract

In 2015, leaders of 193 nations including Malaysia, gathered to adopt Agenda 2030 and pledged commitment towards achieving 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). One the identified goals is aimed to "ensure good healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages" (SDG3). It is targeted that by the year 2030, preventable deaths of new-born babies may be ended and universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services are made available. This study thus seeks to argue for the use of assisted reproductive technologies that may ensure the birth of children who are free from genetic diseases as one of the ways in which SDG3 may be achieved. To accomplish this objective, the notion of individual reproductive autonomy that provides the theoretical foundation for the use of assisted reproductive technologies is briefly presented. This is followed by a descriptive elaboration on the functions of each assisted reproductive technologies identified so as to argue for their utilisation in ensuring healthy lives and wellbeing according to SDG3. In the end, this study concludes that the use of these technologies should be promoted in Malaysia in order to safeguard the birth of healthy children and society in future as demanded by SDG3.