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Public health policy of the EU
One of the key drivers in the development of WHP has been the Public Health Policy of the EU and its Member States and the ENWHP has sought to build on the foundations for health established by these policies.
One of the most significant of these policies was the Community action programme on health promotion (1996 - 2000). The objective of this Programme was "to encourage cooperation between the Member States and support health-promotion measures undertaken by them, to foster coordination of their policies by devising and implementing networks, joint measures and systems for exchanging information and experience".
The Programme provided support for health education measures in the workplace and gave great impetus to the development of workplace health promotion through the establishment of the ENWHP.
Of great significance to those working in the field of workplace health promotion and to the ENWHP is the latest Programme of Community action in the field of public health (2003-2008). The objective of this programme is, "to help achieve a high level of health protection, with particular emphasis on improving public health and preventing diseases and ailments." The importance of this Programme cannot be underestimated as it will provide the foundation on which much European WHP activity is build in the coming years.
The current programme of Community has its origins in the public health strategy of the European Union. On the 16th May 2000 the European Commission published its new public health strategy - the result of a debate that had commenced some two years earlier. The experiences of previous action plans were also used to inform the development of the strategy. The strategy consists of two main elements:
A public health framework which includes a 5 year action programme in the field of public health and in public health policy and legislation.
The development of an integrated approach to health which lays down that a high level of health protection must be guaranteed in the development and implementation of Community policies. As a result close links are being established between public health measures and health related initiatives in other policy areas. The reason behind the creation of such links is to try to ensure that the Community adopts a consistent approach to health so that whether the focus of the policy is the single market, consumer protection, social protection or employment and the environment for example, health is given its rightful place. To develop this area further joint measures are proposed between the public health programme and other Community programmes and agencies.
The public health framework is a core element of the strategy and the Community action programme is part of this framework. Three main areas of activity have been identified for the action programme, with specific actions identified for each.
- Activity area: Improving health information for all levels of society
Action: Development of a comprehensive system for collecting, analysing and evaluating data and knowledge in order to inform, advise and disseminate information at all levels of society, including the general public, authorities and health professionals - Activity area: Establishing a rapid reaction mechanism to respond to major health threats
Action: Developing, strengthening and assisting the capacity, operation and inter-linking of surveillance, early warning and rapid reaction mechanisms - Activity area: Tackling health determinants with a focus on lifestyle issues that are harmful to health
Action: Wide ranging health promotion activities accompanied by measures and specific instruments to reduce and eliminate risks.
In tackling the determinants of health a number of priorities and topics have been identified on which action will taken between 2003 and 2008. One of the major priorities is to reduce the high number of premature deaths and illnesses caused by major diseases such as cancer.
The goal of the action programme is to "help achieve a high level of health protection, with particular emphasis on improving public health and preventing diseases and ailments." For those of us involved in the promotion of health and well-being through the workplace the Community action programme is going to provide opportunities to address the determinants of health in a positive and constructive way.
In the meantime, the European Commission has adopted a Health and Consumer Protection Strategy and a proposal for a European Parliament and Council Decision creating the Community Programme for Health and Consumer protection 2007-2013. Both, strategy and programme proposal, bring together and extend the current EU Public Health Programme and the current programme in support of EU consumer policy.
