In 2022 the world experienced more than 50 per cent increase in conflict-related civilian deaths, while the number of forcibly displaced people worldwide increased by 19 million compared with the end of 2021. Even in peaceful countries the number of intentional homicides reached its highest level in 20 years in 2021 [1].

These levels of violence and insecurity, thriving in societies with no rule of law or inclusive institutions, are profoundly detrimental for development. Widespread injustice, increasing inequality and human rights challenges are jeopardising the fulfilment of Sustainable Development Goal 16. “Goal 16 is about promoting peaceful and inclusive societies, providing access to justice for all and building effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels” [1].

More specifically, it implies a significant reduction of all forms of violence, the promotion of the rule of law both at the national and international levels which should guarantee access to a fair justice to all individuals, the reduction of corruption in all its forms, and the development of responsive and inclusive institutions. To meet Goal 16 by 2030, policy makers and communities need to work together to build up trust and enable institutions to deliver justice and sustainable development.

There is a wide array of direct tools which can be adopted by policy makers and communities to achieve these goals. For instance, the enforcement of anti-corruption policies are meant to root out a culture of clientelistic behaviour, shifting the society towards a different equilibrium in which the bureaucracy is there to serve citizens rather than engaging in personal rent-seeking behaviour. Similarly, universal education policies reduce the abilities of opportunistic political leaders to manipulate the electorate to their advantage.

Can the improvement of the health level of citizens also contribute to the achievement of SDG 16? Are better devised health policies generating the right environment in which peace and inclusive institutions profitably develop? In other words, is there any scope for health and health policies to produce co-benefits in terms of the objectives stated in SDG 16?

In this article, we review the existing literature to assess the role that a more healthy population and better devised health policies can have in the achieving of more inclusive institutions and more peaceful societies. Even though a substantial part of the studies considered are correlational in nature, we document a positive effect of health on the level of social capital and political participation. The literature on the relationship between health and peace is relatively scarce, as it generally investigates the inverse causal link, namely the impact of war on health, but relying on a few studies documenting the disruptive effects of epidemic shocks, we argue that societies endowed with a solid health system are more likely to stand in peace when battered by unexpected health emergencies.