Health 21- health for all in the 21st century.
Health 21, the WHO European regions response to the global health for all policy, provides a framework for action for the Region as a whole, and an inspiration for the construction of targets at the country and local levels.
The Health 21 policy for WHO`s European region has the following
main elements.
The one constant goal is to achieve full health potential for all.
There are two main aims:
- to promote and protect people`s health throughout their lives, and
- to reduce the incidence of the main diseases and injuries, and alleviate the suffering they cause.
Three basic values form the ethical foundation of Health 21:
- health as a fundamental human right;
- equity in health and solidarity in action between and within all countries and their inhabitants, and
- participation and accountability of individuals, groups, institutions and communities for continued health development.
Four main strategies for action have been chosen to ensure that scientific, economic, social and political sustainability drive the implementation of Health 21.
- Multisectoral strategies to tackle the determinants of health, taking into account physical, economic, social, cultural and gender perspectives, and ensuring the use of health impact assessment;
- Health- outcome- driven programmes and investments for health development and clinical care,
- Integrated family- and- community- oriented primary health care, supported by a flexible and responsive hospital system, and
- A participatory health development process that involves relevant partners for health at home, school and work and at local community and country levels, and that promotes joint decision- making, implementation and accountability.
Twenty-one targets for health for all have been set, which specially spell out the needs of the whole European region and suggests the necessary actions to improve the situation. They will provide the "benchmarks" against which to measure progress in improving and protecting health, and in reducing health risks. These 21 targets together constitute an inspirational framework for developing health policies in the countries of the European Region.
Target 1. Solidarity for health in
the European region.
Target 2. Equity in health.
Target 3. Healthy start in life.
Target 4. Health of young people.
Target 5. Healthy aging.
Target 6. Improving mental health.
Target 7. Reducing communicable diseases.
Target 8. Reducing non- communicable
diseases.
Target 9. Reducing injury from violence
and accidents.
Target 10. A healthy and safe physical
environment.
Target 11. Healthier living.
Target 12.Reducing harm from alcohol,
drugs and tobacco.
Target 13. Settings for health.
Target 14. Multisectoral responsibility
for health.
Target 15. An integrated health sector.
Target 16. Managing for quality of
care.
Target 17. Funding health services
and allocating resources.
Target 18. Developing human resources
for health.
Target 19. Research and knowledge
for health.
Target 20. Mobilising partners for
health.
Target 21. Policies and strategies
for health for all.
Health 21 should be incorporated into the health development policy of every Member State of the Region and its principals should be embraced by all major European organisations and institutions. For its part, the WHO Regional Office for Europe should give strong support by playing the following five main roles:
- act as "health conscience", defending the principle of health as a basic human right, and identifying and drawing attention to persistent or emerging concerns related to people`s health;
- function as a major information centre on health and health development;
- promote the health for all policy throughout the Region and ensure its periodic updating;
- provide up- to- date evidence- based tools that countries can use to turn policies based on health for all into action; and
- work as a catalyst for action
The abstract is available in Hungarian, Slovakian, Slovenian and Russian.