Download Next Steps on Health Inequalities

Health promotion and disease
prevention: key policies for
regional development
Michael Hübel
Head of Unit, Health Determinants,
Directorate-General for Health and
Consumers
European Week of Regions and Cities: Prevention
Workshop 7th October 2008
Health Means Wealth
Source: M. Suhrcke, M. McKee, R. Sauto Arce, S. Tsolova, J. Mortensen The contribution of health to the
economy in the EU, Brussels 2005
‘The Contribution of Health to the
Economy
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Higher productivity - healthy
people produce more per hour
worked
Higher labour supply – plus
healthy people work for longer
Skills people in better health
benefit more from training
Capital formation if people expect
to live longer and in good health
they may save more
Risks of an unhealthy
workforce
A unhealthy
population means
less labour supply
through:
More sick leave
Fewer people
employed
More retirement
due to ill health
Germany:
18 million work days lost to depression
In 2002
(cost for employers € 1.59 billion)
Ireland:
labour force participation
61% lower for men with
chronic diseases
Germany: 4 x more men leave labour force
at earliest possible age
if ‘disabled’
Health Means Wealth
Healthier citizens reduce strain on healthcare
systems – Health systems account for 9% of GDP
in the EU
But also:
Healthy Adults:
more likely to be in the workforce
more productive
work and live longer and save more for retirement
Healthy Children:
better schooling outcomes and education
less school absenteeism and early drop-out

a more competitive economy
Lower life expectancy- More
treatable mortality
Deaths per 100,000 population
Treatable Mortality - Wom en 2000-2002
250
200
150
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50
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Lower life expectancy more
preventable mortality
Deaths per 100,000 population
Preventable Mortality - Males 2000-2002
250
200
150
100
50
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Causes
Disease, Injury,
Cardiovascular,
Respiratory, Mental
Health Behaviour – smoking,
alcohol, eating,
Psychological
Environmental
Causes of
and social stress
Risks
the Causes Income, Working Conditions, Access to
Education, Health Services
Rights, Discrimination, Differences in Treatment
by Status, Ethnic Group etc.
Regions are key actors for health
Health competence
Action on Determinants of Health
Involving citizens, stakeholders, local and
national government, and EU
What can regions do?
Leadership
Policy priority
Social, environment and economic policies
Health promotion and disease prevention
emphasis on lower income and educational
groups
Targeted action on marginal groups
Equitable Health care system
Cooperate: good practice, share experience,
capacity….
EU action
Facilitate exchange between Member States
Models of good practice – Health Programme
2008-2013
EU Health Policy
Health in other EU policies
Policy Context
EU Health Strategy 2007
Four Principles
Shared health values – including citizen empowerment
and participation
Health is the greatest wealth
Health in all policies
Strengthening EU voice in global health
Three objectives
Fostering good health in an ageing Europe
Protecting citizens from health threats
Supporting health systems and technologies
Implementation
Structured cooperation with Member States
Cooperation and partnerships with stakeholders
‘A high level of health protection in all
Community policies and activities’
Health strategy 2007: ‘Healthy ageing’ across
life cycle
EU action across health determinants nutrition and physical activity, tobacco, alcohol,
mental health, ….
Health inequalities and socio-economic issues
Key settings (schools, the workplace,…) and
population groups (children, the elderly)
Health to be taken into consideration across EU
policy areas
Health in other policies
Regional policy – health in
guidelines for use of structural
funds
Social policy – health and social
protection, ESF
Youth
Next steps
Further development of use of
structural funds to support health in
regions
Opportunities in health programme
Enhanced cooperation with MS
(acknowledging regional dimension)
Health inequalities communication
Thank You!