Consortium Member Involved:
C. James Frankish, PhD., Institute of Health Promotion Research, University of British Columbia
Abstract
It has been only in recent years that health advocates have recognized that the impact of government policies on the population=s health has been overlooked or neglected in traditional approaches to policy analysis and evaluation. The Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion, 1986, identified that health considerations should be relevant to all policy makers in all sectors; they should be aware of the health consequences of their decisions.
The criteria for evaluation of health, social, environmental and economic policies and programs are changing. This is particularly true within the health sector where many governments are adopting an understanding of health that includes a focus on the social and environmental determinants of health. They recognize that societal structures, attitudes and behaviors influence health profoundly, that prevention is better than a cure and that prevention is a way to reduce disability and social dependence. Consequently, how social, environmental and economic policies influence health and the prevention or the production of illness, disability or death needs systematic monitoring at all levels of government.
This 77 page (English) document, examines how health impact assessment (HIA) can be used to assess the health impact of policies and programs to answer questions; what impact on health these new perspectives have; what strategies will work to achieve beneficial outcomes; what criteria should be applied to judging health impact; how health impact assessment can work to produce better decisions; and what is its ultimate influence on policies and program decisions. Without the implementation of such tools and methods, health impact cannot be known.
The purpose of this study is to report on the status of the use of health impact assessment as a tool for public policy and a strategy for population health promotion. For this study, health impact assessment is defined as any combination of procedures or methods by which a proposed policy or program may be judged as to the effects it may have on the health of a population.
This report presents and describes:
This document is available upon request. For more information or copies of this report, please contact:
Tariqu Bhatti, PhD
Health Promotion Development Division, Research and Program Policy Directorate
Health Promotion and Programs Branch, Health Canada
Room 468, Jeanne Mance Building, Address Locator 1094A2
Ottawa, ON K1A 1B4
Telephone: (613) 954-8566
Fax: (613) 954-5542
Email: tariq_bhatti@isdtcp3.hwc.ca
Frankish, J., Green, L., Ratner, P., Olsen, L. & Larsen, C. (1996). Health Impact Assessment as a Tool for Effective Health Policies and Program, Report to Health Canada. ISBN Unknown (Health Canada could tell you)
Green, L., George, A., Daniel, M., Frankish, J., Herbert, C., Bowie, W. & O'Neill, M. (1995). Participatory Research in Health Promotion, Royal Society of Canada, Ottawa. 0-920064-55-8