The latest WHO guidance on intersectoral monitoring for health reiterates the need for countries to develop a combination of targeted and universal policies across areas such as social affairs, urban planning, urban transport, education, work and the environment.
Roughly 80% of population health is affected by the external circumstances and conditions in which people live, work and age. These are largely shaped by policies outside the health sector and are influenced by various factors beyond age, genetic makeup and access to health care.
For instance, providing people with opportunities for physical activity, such as safe walking and cycling routes, can mitigate the negative health effects associated with a sedentary lifestyle. Similarly, ensuring easy access to healthy food and education on nutrition can reduce dietary risks.
This is why effective health promotion requires action coordinated across multiple sectors. The new guidance provides a summary of different forms of intersectoral monitoring, and outlines relevant indicators, tools, barriers, analytical approaches and frameworks.
Measuring health and well-being
Successful implementation of intersectoral action can yield several benefits, such as better understanding among policy-makers regarding the impact of their work on population health, changes in policy direction, development and dissemination of relevant research, and stronger partnerships between health and other government departments. Routine monitoring and reporting by public health authorities facilitate the evaluation and planning of intersectoral actions and policies.
Reliable data and indicators are needed to help governments measure progress, identify good practices, and adopt solutions for meaningful and equitable intersectoral action. The guidance compiled by WHO/Europe, available in English and Russian, aims to help with organizing intersectoral monitoring by explaining the basic requirements and possible obstacles. Alongside these theoretical and preparatory aspects, it provides practical examples of conceptual frameworks, indicator sets and tools that can assist in implementation.
In 2021 Member States adopted a new framework to measure health and well-being in the WHO European Region. The framework is measuring progress across the key areas of the European Programme of Work, 2020–2025, while also considering the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on national health systems.
This activity is supported by the European Commission (Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety) through the action “Supporting Member States in the WHO European Region in strengthening health information systems and boosting health data governance.