Health in All Policies aims to ensure that the health and health equity implications of decisions are considered across sectors, but putting this approach into practice can be challenging. This JA PreventNCD article examines how political priorities, institutional structures and different levels of governance influence the implementation of Health in All Policies.
The authors critically compare different approaches used under the Health in All Policies umbrella, including whole-of-government and whole-of-society approaches, policy coherence, multisectoral and intersectoral action. Using examples involving Ministries of Finance, Employment and Education, the article shows that effective action depends not only on collaboration, but also on understanding political priorities, power relationships, institutional responsibilities and the policy context in which decisions are made.
The article argues that Health in All Policies is best understood as a flexible strategic approach rather than a single policy tool or fixed model. Successful implementation requires strong public health capacity, an understanding of political and commercial determinants of health, and the ability to identify where health objectives can be advanced across different sectors and levels of governance. Ultimately, whether health and equity are prioritised in decision-making remains a political choice.
Read the full paper in the European Journal of Public Health:
https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckag006