The World Health Organization is paving the way for a shift of public health towards promoting health and well-being. On Monday 29 May 2023, Member States agreed to adopt, the " Global framework for integrating well-being into public health utilizing a health promotion approach", which strives to enable all people to flourish and achieve their full physical and mental health potential throughout their lives and across generations.
The Framework recommends six strategic directions that focus on:
- Nurturing planet Earth and its ecosystems;
- Designing social protection and welfare systems based on equity, inclusion and solidarity;
- Designing and supporting implementation for equitable economies that serve human development;
- Promoting equitable universal health coverage through primary health care, health promotion and preventive services;
- Promoting equitable digital systems that serve as public utilities, contribute to social cohesion and are free of commercial interest; and
- Measuring and monitoring well-being.
Effective implementation of these strategic directions should constitute part of a national governance system based on a ‘whole-of-government’ and ‘whole-of-society’ approach.
“We have to fundamentally change the way that leaders in politics, the private sector, and international institutions think about and value health, and to promote growth that is based on health and well-being for people and the planet, for countries in all income levels”, said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “It is time to move away from thinking of health as a component of the economy, and instead look at how the economy can support the societal goal of Health for All, as an investment that is the foundation of productive, resilient and inclusive economies.”
The Framework proposes close collaboration with sectors outside of health and with communities to promote and protect health. It serves as a guide for stakeholders to engage in a coherent and coordinated manner around a common purpose: promoting the health of people and planet in a sustainable and equitable manner. There are complementarities with the work on social determinants of health and equity, on primary health care and OneHealth among others. And is aligned with several WHO health promotion activities, including promoting physical activity, the Tobacco Free initiative and less consumption of alcohol.
The Assembly requests the Director-General to report on implementation of the Framework in 2024, 2026 and 2031.
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