7.C. Workshop: Health for all Policies: The co-benefits of intersectoral action
Authors:   Organised by: European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies,   Chair persons: Matthias Wismar (European Observatory)
Published: October 2023

The objective of this roundtable discussion will be to provide the arguments and evidence for increased intersectoral action to achieve the sustainable development goals (SDGs). Country responses to the COVID-19 pandemic have demonstrated that large scale intersectoral action for health is possible- if the policy issue is of high importance and sufficiently consensual. Most countries have implemented measures preventing disease transmissions, adjusting health systems, controlling borders and mobility, redirecting the economy, and securing civil protection. To this end, heads of government and their minister of health are working closely with all other ministries, departments, and sectors including social affairs, the home office, foreign affairs, research and education, transport, agriculture, business, and state aid. The problem this panel addresses is how to keep this invaluable intersectoral work flourishing long after the COVID-19 pandemic has passed. The framework of and the commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) offers an opportunity to reinforce action on health- but also to go beyond the Health in All Policies (HiAP) concept and towards a greater commitment to co-benefits. HiAP has introduced the idea that co-benefits from other sectors to health are valuable; however, the concept neglects the focus on co-benefits that arise from health or health systems to other sectors. Health for all Policies (HfAP) builds on HiAP in that it also Identifies co-benefits from health or health systems to other sectors. This bi-directional relationship can strengthen the case for investing in health, and emphasizes the contribution of health and health systems to societal wellbeing. In this panel, the basic question we are asking is: How can we better understand and communicate the health effects and co-benefits that intersectoral action can produce? To do this the panel draws on and makes a case for changing the argument about intersectoral action, from one focusing on health and health sector as the main beneficiary to one based on co-benefits, focusing on benefits for all sectors. It makes the case for a Health for All Policies approach, one that focuses on co-benefits between sectors.

Format

This will be a roundtable discussion where a brief keynote will be given on the concept of co-benefits and Health for All policies. The rest of the roundtable will be interactively facilitated and cover the economic argument for co-benefits and then, to demonstrate these co-benefits and spark audience engagement, three SDGs that speak clearly to the conferences theme of our food, our health our earth will be given the spotlight. These include: SDG 11 sustainable cities and communities, SDG 8 Decent work and economic growth and SDG 13 climate action.

This workshop is based on a comprehensive study that has produced a Lancet article, a policy brief and we will be presenting the final results from our forthcoming manuscript.

Key messages

• The health for all policies concept can strengthen the case for investing in health and achieving the SDGs.

• Intersectoral collaboration and action is key to producing co-benefits.

Speakers/Panelists

Scott Greer

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA

Luigi Siciliani

University of York, York, UK

Michelle Falkenbach

European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, Brussels, Belgium

Andrea Schmidt

Austrian Public Health Institute, Vienna, Austria

Roshanak Mehdipanah

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA