Implementing Health in All Policies at the national level in Finland

Finnish health policy strategies have had a strong intersectoral component since the 1970’s. However, beginning with the Finnish European Union Presidency in 2006 this work has been systemized and framed within the Health in All Policies (HiAP) concept.  

This presentation will explore how the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, in partnership with the Council of State and all Ministries, developed a comprehensive plan to implement HiAP. Through this process, work with major public health non-governmental organizations was strengthened. The presentation will describe the comprehensive plan and how it has been put into action, including efforts to 1) identify the most important entry points for HiAP implementation; 2) develop working processes to improve a common understanding and to facilitate the inclusion of health perspectives; 3) improve methods for health impact assessments as part of integrated impact assessments; and 4) strengthen commitment for and processes of HiAP implementation within the Council of State.

The presenter will also discuss identified critical factors for success, as well as remaining challenges. For example, in order to integrate health and health equity into policies and programmes across sectors in a complementary and timely manner, it is critical to learn lessons from the objectives, strategies, working methods, timing, and language of others. While progress has been made, challenges remain, in particular in integrating health equity perspectives into policy arenas such as finance, taxation, trade, and industry, especially in the current time of austerity.