Criteria for the selection non-health policies, programs and projects to

which undergo HIA in Catalonia

Anna Mompart

Pilar Brugulat

Vicenç Martínez

Núria de Lara

Angelina González

Departament de Salut

The Health Plan of Catalonia formulates health and risk reduction objectives and assesses them.

However, the importance that social determinants of health have on the health of population makes it essential to take into account the impact on health of no-health policies.

The incorporation of health impact assessment (HIA) for all non-health public policies means the incorporation of health to the process of decision making in the administration.

Introduction I

Departament de Salut

The Public Health Act of Catalonia as the combination of procedures, methods and tools to evaluate a policy , program or project in relation to their potential effects on the health of the population and its subgroups.

The Act does not specify when HIA has to be applied.

Introduction II

Departament de Salut

To describe the methodology used to created a tool to identify which non-health or health policies, programs or projects from Government of Catalonia are candidates for HIA (screening tool)

Objective

Departament de Salut

• An HIA protocol will be done based on benmarking and literature review including:

• kind of assessment,

• subjects,

• Follow-up characteristics

• criteria of inclusion /exclusion of policies suitable to have a HIA

Methodology:

Departament de Salut

To have a systematic protocol for HIA which includes corrective measures to minimize risks and maximize benefits for health that would condition the objective concretion of the selected intervention to be assessed, according to criteria of efficiency, effectiveness and feasibility

Results

Departament de Salut

Key aspects to be taken into account when selecting interventions will be:

predictive character of HIA,

health inequalities and

the number of people benefiting from the policy

Results

Departament de Salut

HIA reports should include at least:

1) A general description of the project

2) Main alternatives studied

3) Measures to reduce, balance or eliminate the possible negative health impact of the internvention

Results

Departament de Salut

HIA is a necessary tool to streamline decision making in relation to projects that may have an impact on population health.

Conclusions