Table of Contents - Workbook

Appendix B

Goals in Other Countries

Sweden

The overall aim of Swedish public health policy is to create social conditions that ensure good health for the entire population. Swedish public health policy is based on 11 objectives containing the most important determinants of Swedish public health. The 11 objectives are:

• Participation and influence in society
• Economic and social security
• Secure and favourable conditions during childhood and adolescence
• Healthier working life
• Healthy and safe environments and products
• Health and medical care that more actively promotes good health
• Effective protection against communicable diseases
• Safe sexuality and good reproductive health
• Increased physical activity
• Good eating habits and safe food
• Reduced use of tobacco and alcohol, a society free from illicit drugs and doping and a reduction in the harmful effects of excessive gambling.

New Zealand

New Zealand’s Health Strategy set out goals with the following aims:

• Unite the health sector (public health and health care)
• Improve coordination across the health sector
• Improve coordination across sectors
• Emphasize users’ involvement
• Focus and direct actions according to priorities

There is also a complementary strategic plan for Maori public health that focuses on reducing disparities in Maori versus non-Maori populations (identified as a priority).

The goals are structured to address societal, community and individual factors determining health (from education and employment to improving oral health). There are 10 goals and they are broad and non-specific.

Goals

• A healthy social environment
• Reducing inequalities in health status
• Maori development in health
• A healthy physical environment
• Healthy communities, families and individuals
• Healthy Lifestyles
• Better mental health
• Better physical health
• Injury prevention
• Accessible and appropriate health care services

United States

Two national goals were outlined in the US Healthy People 2010 Initiative:

• Increase life expectancy and improve quality of life
• Eliminate health disparities

The goals are directional, non-specific. Some of the leading health indicators are:

Leading Health Indicators

• Physical activity
• Overweight and obesity
• Tobacco use
• Substance use
• Responsible sexual behaviour
• Mental health
• Injury and violence
• Environmental quality
• Immunization
• Access to health care

United Kingdom

Between 2001 and 2002, the UK developed and put in place two national targets meant to stem recent increases in health inequalities. These targets include the reduction of differences in life expectancy and infant mortality across social classes by 10% by the year 2010. In order to attain these targets, a program for action has been implemented including a strategy and recommended priority interventions along four theme areas:

• Supporting families, mothers, and children
• Engaging communities and individuals
• Preventing illness and providing effective treatment and care
• Addressing underlying determinants of health.

Australia

In Australia, goals have recently been developed in four categories that are consistent with national health priority areas and which focus on chronic disease burden reduction. The four priority categories are:

• Preventable mortality and morbidity
• Healthy lifestyles and risk factors
• Health literacy and health skills
• Healthy environments

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