Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Health in All Policies: Concept, Purpose, and Implementation

  • Reference work entry
  • First Online:
Handbook of Global Health

  • 2579 Accesses

Abstract

Health in All Policies (HiAP) is a public policy approach that aims to increase the recognition of health and action on health, health determinants, and health equity across all sectors. As an approach, it guides the way of working within the health sector, within sectors other than health, and collaboration and cooperation across sectors. An ultimate aim is that government policies take account of the potential health implications of their decisions in advance and adjust the decisions in a way which maximizes health gains and minimizes the harms that the decisions may have on the health of the people or on the health system. Several structures, mechanisms, and processes have been developed for implementing HiAP. Although this operational guidance can help to build capacities in governance for HiAP, it does not automatically make it happen. The need to understand the policy and political context is essential. No amount of political will, cooperation, or enthusiasm can effectively implement HiAP without knowledge of what is sought and prioritized for health. This cannot be left to external consultants, other sectors, cabinet offices, or policymakers. The responsibility for knowing health priorities lies with, and will always remain with, those working in the health sector or in advocacy for health.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 1,099.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 1,299.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Adelaide Statement on Health in All Policies. WHO, Government of South Australia, Adelaide 2010. Accessed 3 Mar 2020

    Google Scholar 

  • African Union (2019) Declaration on addressing social determinants of health in Africa: adoption of health in all policies approach. Assembly/AU/Decl.3 (XXXII), 32nd Ordinary Session of the Assembly, 10–11 February 2019, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. https://au.int/sites/default/files/decisions/36461-assembly_au_dec_713_-_748_xxxii_e.pdf. Accessed 12 Feb 2020

  • Amsterdam Treaty (1997) Treaty establishing the European Community (Amsterdam consolidated version) – Part Three: Community policies– Title XIII: Public health – Article 152 – Article 129 – EC Treaty (Maastricht consolidated version) – Article 129 – EEC Treaty, 11997E152. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:11997E152&from=EN. Accessed 27 Jan 2020

  • Andreasson S, Colliander S, von Haartman F, Joossens L, Lang T, Leather S, Raw M (1996) Health impact assessment of the EU common agricultural policy (ed: Whitehead M, Nordgren P). A NIPH policy report, F-serien 8. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/265310088_Health_Impact_Assessment_of_the_EU_Common_Agricultural_Policy_Contributors. Accessed 12 Feb 2020

  • Baum F, Ollila E, Pena S (2013) History of HiAP. In: Leppo K et al (eds) Health in all policies. Seizing opportunities, implementing policies. Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, UNRISD, WHO/EUROPE, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Helsinki

    Google Scholar 

  • Baum F, Lawless A, Delany T et al (2014) Evaluation of Health in All Policies: concept, theory and application. Health Promot Int 29(S1):i130–i142

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baum F, Delany-Crowe T, Lawless A et al (2019) To what extent can the activities of the South Australian Health in All Policies initiative be linked to population health outcomes using a program theory-based evaluation? BMC Public Health 19:88. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-019-6408-y

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Bauman A, King L, Nutbeam D (2014) Rethinking the evaluation and measurement of Health in All Policies. Health Promot Int 29(S1):i143–i150

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Christensen T, Laegreid P (2007) The whole-of-government approach to public sector reform. Public Adm Rev 67(6):1060–1066

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Council of European Union (2006) Council conclusions on Health in All Policies (HiAP). 2767th employment, social policy, health and consumer affairs council meeting, Brussels, 30 November and 1 December 2006

    Google Scholar 

  • Council of European Union (2010) Council conclusions on equity and Health in All Policies: solidarity in health. 3019th employment, social policy, health and consumer affairs council meeting, Brussels, 8 June 2010

    Google Scholar 

  • de Leeuw E (2017) Engagement of sectors other than health in integrated health governance, policy, and action. Annu Rev Public Health 38:329–349

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • de Leeuw E (2018) Policy, theory, and evaluation: stop mixing the fruit salad. Comment on ‘Developing a framework for a program theory-based approach to evaluating policy processes and outcomes: Health in All Policies in South Australia’. Int J Health Policy Manag 7(8):763–765

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • de Leeuw E, Peters D (2014) Nine questions to guide development and implementation of Health in All Policies. Health Promot Int 30(4):987–997

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • de Leeuw E, StÃ¥hl T, Tang KC (eds) (2014) The eighth global conference on health promotion, Helsinki, June 2013. Health Promot Int 29(Suppl 1):i1

    Google Scholar 

  • Delany T, Lawless A, Baum F, Popay J, Jones L, McDermott D, Harris E, Broderick D, Marmot M (2016) Health in All Policies in South Australia: what has supported early implementation? Health Promot Int 31:888–898

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • ECHP (1999) Health impact assessment – main concepts and suggested approach. Gothenburg consensus paper, Dec 1999. European Centre for Health Policy, Brussels

    Google Scholar 

  • Economic Council (1972) Division for exploring goals of social policies and their measurement. Annex 1: report of the working group exploring the goals of health [Talousneuvosto. Yhteiskuntapolitiikan tavoitteita ja niiden mittaamista tutkiva jaosto. Liite 1. Terveyspolitiikan tavoitteita tutkivan työryhmän raportti.] Helsinki

    Google Scholar 

  • Fooks GJ, Gilmore AB (2013) Corporate philanthropy, political influence, and health policy. PLoS One 8(11):e80864. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0080864

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Fooks GJ, Williams S, Box G, Sacks G (2019) Corporations’ use and misuse of evidence to influence health policy: a case study of sugar-sweetened beverage taxation. Glob Health 15(1):1–20. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12992-019-0495-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gmeinder M, Morgan D, Mueller M (2017) How much do OECD countries spend on prevention? OECD health working papers, no. 101. OECD Publishing, Paris. https://doi.org/10.1787/f19e803c-en. Accessed 16 Jan 2020

  • Government of South Australia (2011) The South Australian approach to Health in All Policies: background and practical guide. Version 2. Department of Health, Government of South Australia https://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/cb6fa18043aece9fb510fded1a914d95/HiAPBackgroundPracticalGuide-v2.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CACHEID=ROOTWORKSPACE-cb6fa18043aece9fb510fded1a914d95-mN5EQGQ. Accessed 30 Jan 2020

  • Government of South Australia (2019) Global status report of Health in All Policies. Prepared on behalf of Global Network for Health in All Policies. https://actionsdg.ctb.ku.edu/gn-hiap/reports/. Accessed 5 Mar 2020

  • Greer S, Bekker M, de Leeuw E, Wismar M, Helderman JK, Ribeiro S, Stuckler D (2017) Policy, politics and public health. Eur J Public Health 27(Suppl 4):40–43. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckx152

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Heering Holt D, Ahlmark N (2018) How do we evaluate Health in All Policies? Comment on ‘Developing a framework for a program theory-based approach to evaluating policy processes and outcomes: Health in All Policies in South Australia’. Int J Health Policy Manag 7(8):758–760

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huizinga O, Kruse M (2016) Food industry self-regulation scheme ‘EU Pledge’ cannot prevent the marketing of unhealthy foods to children. Obes Med 1:e24–e28

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kickbusch I (2010) Health in All Policies: the evolution of the concept of horizontal health governance. In: Kickbush I, Buckett K (eds) Implementing Health in All Policies: Adelaide 2010. Department of Health, Government of South Australia, Adelaide

    Google Scholar 

  • Knai C, Pettigrew M, Douglas N, Durand MA, Eastmure E, Nolte E, Mays N (2018) The public health responsibility deal: using a systems-level analysis to understand the lack of impact on alcohol, food, physical activity, and workplace health sub-systems. Int J Environ Res Public Health 15:2895–2909

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koivusalo M (2010) The state of Health in All Policies (HiAP) in the European Union: potential and pitfalls. J Epidemiol Community Health 64(6):500–503. https://doi.org/10.1136/jech.2009.102020

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Koivusalo M, Santalahti P (1999) Healthy public policies in Europe – integrating health in other policies. Final report. GASPP occasional papers 5. STAKES, Helsinki

    Google Scholar 

  • Lalonde M (1974) A new perspective on the health of Canadians. Minister of Supply and Services Canada, Ottawa. Retrieved from Public Health Agency of Canada website: http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/ph-sp/pdf/perspect-eng.pdf. Accessed 16 Jan 2020

  • Lawless A, Baum F, Delany-Crowe T et al (2018) Developing a framework for a program theory-based approach to evaluating policy processes and outcomes: Health in All Policies in South Australia. Int J Health Policy Manag 7(6):510–521

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leppo K, Tangcharoensathien V (2013) The health sector’s role in HiAP. In: Leppo K et al (eds) Health in All Policies: seizing opportunities, implementing policies. Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, UNRISD, WHO/EUROPE, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Helsinki

    Google Scholar 

  • Leppo K, Ollila E, Peña S et al (eds) (2013) Health in All Policies: seizing opportunities, implementing policies. Finland, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, Helsinki

    Google Scholar 

  • Melkas T (2013) Health in All Policies as a priority in Finnish health policy: a case study on national health policy development. Scand J Public Health 41(Suppl 11):3–28

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Milio N (1981) Promoting health through public policy. Davis, Philadelphia

    Google Scholar 

  • Moodie R, Stuckler D, Monteiro C, Sheron N, Neal B, Thamarangsi T, Lincoln P, Casswell S, Lancet NCD Action Group (2013) Profits and pandemics: prevention of harmful effects of tobacco, alcohol, and ultra-processed food and drink industries. Lancet 381(9867):670–679. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(12)62089-3

  • NCD Commission Report of Working Group 1 (2019) WHO Independent Commission for NCDs. WHO, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • Ollila E (2011) Health in All Policies: from rhetoric to action. Scand J Public Health 39(Suppl 6): 11–18

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ollila E, Baum F, Pena S (2013) Introduction to Health in All Policies and the analytical framework of the book. In: Leppo K et al (eds) Health in All Policies: seizing opportunities, implementing policies. Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, UNRISD, WHO/EUROPE, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Helsinki

    Google Scholar 

  • PAHO (2014) Pan American Health Organization Plan of action on health in all policies [Internet]. 53rd directing council of PAHO, 66th session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Americas, Sept 29 to Oct 3 2014, Washington, DC. PAHO (Resolution CD53.R2). http://www.paho.org/hq/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_view&gid=27549&Itemid=270&lang=en. Accessed 11 Feb 2020

  • Puska P, StÃ¥hl T (2010) Health in All Policies – the Finnish initiative: background, principles, and current issues. Annu Rev Public Health 31:315–328

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rudolph L, Caplan J, Ben-Moshe K, Dillon L (2013) Health in All Policies: a guide for state and local governments. American Public Health Association and Public Health Institute, Washington, DC/Oakland

    Google Scholar 

  • Shankardass K, Muntaner C, Kokkinen L, Shahidi FV, Freiler A, Oneka G, Bayoumi A M, O’Campo P (2018) The implementation of Health in All Policies initiatives: a systems framework for government action. Health Res Policy Syst 16(1):16–26

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith KE, Fooks G, Collin J et al (2010) Is the increasing policy use of Impact Assessment in Europe likely to undermine efforts to achieve healthy public policy? J Epidemiol Community Health 64:478–487

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • StÃ¥hl T (2010) Is health recognized in the EU’s policy process? An analysis of the European Commission’s impact assessments. Eur J Public Health 20:176–181

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • StÃ¥hl T (2018) Health in All Policies: from rhetoric to implementation and evaluation – the Finnish experience. Scand J Public Health 46(Suppl 20):38–46

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • StÃ¥hl T, Wismar M, Ollila E, Lahtinen E, Leppo K (2006) Health in All Policies: prospects and potential. Finland, Ministry of Health and Social Affairs, Helsinki

    Google Scholar 

  • UN (2012) Political declaration of the high-level meeting of the general assembly on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases. UN General Assembly, 24th January 2012, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • UN (2015) Draft outcome document of the United Nations summit for the adoption of the post-2015 development agenda. United Nations, General Assembly A/69/L.85. 12 August 2015. New York: United Nations

    Google Scholar 

  • WHO (1978) Declaration of Alma-Ata international conference on primary health care, Alma-Ata, USSR, 6–12 September 1978. World Health Organization. http://www.who.int/publications/almaata_declaration_en.pdf?ua=1. Accessed 6 Mar 2017

  • WHO (1986) The Ottawa charter for health promotion. First international conference on health promotion, Ottawa, 21 November 1986. http://www.who.int/healthpromotion/conferences/previous/ottawa/en/. Accessed 16 Jan 2020

  • WHO (1988) Adelaide recommendations on healthy public policy. Second international conference on health promotion, Adelaide, South Australia, 5–9 April 1988. http://www.who.int/healthpromotion/conferences/previous/adelaide/en/. Accessed 16 Jan 2020

  • WHO (1997) Report of a conference on intersectoral action for health – a cornerstone for health-for-all in the twenty-first century, 20–23 April 1997, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. WHO/PPE/PAC/97.6. World Health Organization, WHO, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • WHO (2011) Rio political declaration on social determinants of health. Rio de Janeiro, 21 October 2011. https://www.who.int/sdhconference/declaration/Rio_political_declaration.pdf?ua=1. Accessed 4 Mar 2020

  • WHO (2014a) Health in all policies: Helsinki statement. Framework for country action. World Health Organization & Finland, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/112636. Accessed 27 Jan 2020

  • WHO (2014b) Contributing to social and economic development: sustainable action across sectors to improve health and health equity. WHA67.12, agenda item 14.6, 24 May 2014

    Google Scholar 

  • WHO (2014c) Regional framework on Health in All Policies for South-East Asia. World Health Organization, Regional Office for South-East Asia, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • WHO (2015a) Contributing to social and economic development: sustainable action across sectors to improve health and health equity (follow-up of the 8th global conference on health promotion). WHA68/17. Provisional agenda item 14.5, 18 May 2015

    Google Scholar 

  • WHO (2015b) Health in All Policies: training manual (ed: Stone V). World Health Organization, Switzerland

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Tampere, Finland

    Timo Ståhl

  2. Tampere University, Tampere, Finland

    Meri Koivusalo

Authors
  1. Timo Ståhl
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Meri Koivusalo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Timo Ståhl .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate Institute of International and Global Health Programme, Geneva, Switzerland

    Ilona Kickbusch

  2. Charité Foundation, Berlin, Germany

    Detlev Ganten

  3. World Health Organization, Regional Office, Brazzaville, Congo, Demographic Republic (Zaire)

    Matshidiso Moeti

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2021 The Editors and the World Health Organization

About this entry

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this entry

Ståhl, T., Koivusalo, M. (2021). Health in All Policies: Concept, Purpose, and Implementation. In: Kickbusch, I., Ganten, D., Moeti, M. (eds) Handbook of Global Health. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-45009-0_80

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation