The project will focus on communities with the highest incidence of ill-health and premature death, social exclusion and poor life chances. Areas will be chosen to reflect urban and rural issues. Action will focus on learning lessons about what works in addressing the effects on health of housing, unemployment, social distress and poor access to services in a variety of settings. The information gained will be used, as it becomes available, to inform decisions about resource allocation and future development. Health Impact Assessment 8.7.
All policies impact on people's lives, some to a greater extent and with more immediacy than others.
The health experience of a population, at national or local level, can reflect the impact of such policies. Except in a relatively few examples the causal relationship between policies and health or well-being of a population is rarely direct and simple. Nevertheless comparisons of the health effects of policies over time and in differing political contexts enables judgements to be made on the possible outcomes of policy choices. Health Impact Assessment is a relatively recent idea which is designed to be supportive but critical, and to inform the policy making process. Over the past decade Health Impact Assessment has been adopted in the European Union, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and by countries in the developing world.