Abstract
Improving health, wellbeing and equitable outcomes are key societal goals. On its own, the health sector cannot achieve population health and wellbeing; it requires the coordinated actions of many sectors. Despite this self-evident principle, it is rare to see other sectors’ policies being assessed for their impact on these goals. Nationally and internationally, calls are growing to introduce mandatory Health Impact Assessments to give greater assurance that the health impacts of policy proposals have been understood and potential co-benefits have been prioritised.
This Briefing argues that making HIA a routine, mandatory part of the policy-making process in all parts of government would embed a practical, evidence-based tool to support and improve health, wellbeing and equity.