Build Healthy Public Policy
Health promotion goes beyond health care. It puts health on the agenda of policy makers in all
sectors and at all levels, directing them to be aware of the health consequences of their
decisions and to accept their responsibilities for health.
Health promotion policy combines diverse but complementary approaches including
legislation, fiscal measures, taxation and organizational change. It is coordinated action that
leads to health, income and social policies that foster greater equity. Joint action contributes to
ensuring safer and healthier goods and services, healthier public services, and cleaner, more
enjoyable environments.
Health promotion policy requires the identification of obstacles to the adoption of healthy
public policies in non-health sectors, and ways of removing them. The aim must be to make
the healthier choice the easier choice for policy makers as well.