2.B. Round table: Policy decision-making – approaches for inter-sectoral action for health and sustainable development

Human health and wellbeing essentially contribute to higher economic productivity and to sustainable development of the society. Human capital is becoming an increasingly valuable social good, even more so with the aging societies and the declining proportion of economically active population. It has been well recognized that all sectors of the government (e.g. agriculture, energy, transport, economy and trade, construction, environment and others) create conditions that enable people to live more healthy or less healthy lives and that generate good or bad opportunities for maintaining and strengthening health. Public policies can, by promoting wellbeing for all people of all ages, and by creating sustainable and healthy environments in which people live, work and age, significantly improve and protect the health and wellbeing of the population and thus contribute to thriving societies.

Yet, despite sound scientific evidence, efficient multi-sectoral activities to ensure the best possible health are insufficient at individual country level as well as at international levels, and the awareness of all-of-government responsibilities and opportunities for actively strengthening health, health equity and wellbeing is not as yet reflected in political agendas of key national, EU or international decision bodies.

The aim of the panel is to discuss effective approaches for bringing health, health equity and wellbeing to the political agenda of all sectors of national governments as well as the European Commission, and to generate innovative ideas on what public health professionals can do to efficiently support the political structures in their accountability and commitment for enabling health, health equity and wellbeing of all Europeans, creating thriving and sustainable Europe.

At the panel, approaches to strengthen inter-sectoral accountability for health, health equity and wellbeing will be discussed. What public health professionals can do to bring health and wellbeing higher on the political agendas at national, EU and international levels? What public health professionals can do to lever the multilateral international institutions towards human health and health equity goals?

The output of the panel will be a tool to promote inter-sectoral accountability for health and wellbeing in dialogues with representatives of non-health sectors and of multilateral international organizations, highlighting key activities that will result in benefits and returns on investments in health and health equity to the economic and social development of societies, thus contributing to achievement of the SDGs.

The panel will be constituted of 5 panelists and two chairpersons. The chairpersons will alternately prompt the panelists to discuss questions related to intersectoral commitment to health and SDGs. The participants will also be invited (and involved) to actively contribute to the discussion.

Key messages:

• Strong political leadership will ensure that health protection and promotion is guaranteed across all governing structures and portfolios at national, EU and international levels.

• Public health professionals can support policy makers in their commitment and acountability for health and wellbeing by sound scientific evidence, advocacy and social participation in decision-making.