Participatory approaches to reaching the Sustainable Development Goals: Cyprus: leaving no one behind: Cyprus puts universal health coverage in place

Until recently, there was no universal health system in Cyprus. Health care was provided by two uncoordinated subsystems, which led to inefficiencies. While around 75% of the population was entitled to health care in public facilities, financed by general taxation, many still opted for private health care and paid out of pocket. As a result, the rate of out-of-pocket expenditure in Cyprus is among the highest in the European Union (EU), exceeding 45% of total health spending, compared to an EU28 average of 22% in 2016. Furthermore, the dual system had no links between public and private providers to ensure the continuity of care.This briefing addresses SDG 3 (good health and well-being), target 3.8 (achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services and access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all) and SDG 10 (reduced inequalities). It also addresses strategic direction 5 of the WHO Roadmap to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, building on Health 2020 due to its focus on strengthening health systems for universal health coverage.

Participatory approaches to reaching the Sustainable Development Goals: Slovenia: integrating population and individual services to reduce health inequalities at the community level through health-promotion centres

In 2002, HPCs were created in all 61 PHC centres across Slovenia. Their major role was to provide lifestyle interventions against the key risk factors for noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) through a combination of population- and individual-based approaches. These centres integrated activities, which had previously been dispersed among the PHC centres, including community nursing. To better focus on vulnerable groups, between 2013 and 2016, HPC centres piloted a new approach to integrating the different services, targeting vulnerable groups at the community level. This entailed their reaching out to and involving key stakeholders with an impact on community health to ensure that vulnerable groups were not left behind. Partnerships were created with different stakeholders, including social services and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). This resulted in the adoption of local health-promotion strategies and action plans aimed at addressing the needs of the different population groups by identifying and reducing health inequalities. Slovenia’s experience shows how they are working towards reaching SDGs 3 and 10 in order to achieve good health and well-being and leave no one behind.

Разработка национальных планов действий в области транспорта, охраны здоровья и окружающей среды: пошаговое пособие для лиц, формирующих политику и осуществляющих планирование

Национальный план действий в области транспорта, охраны здоровья и окружающей среды (НПДТОСОЗ) является ключевым механизмом для развития экологически устойчивого и здорового транспорта в стране. В нем представлен всеобъемлющий межотраслевой метод планирования и осуществления действий в области транспорта, окружающей среды и здоровья на национальном уровне. НПДТОСОЗ также стимулирует работу по всем секторам и действия, которые могут способствовать сокращению неравенств в отношении здоровья, внося вклад в достижение целей таких важнейших европейских мер политики и стратегий, как: Здоровье-2020, основы Европейской политики в поддержку здоровья и благополучия; Пармская декларация по окружающей среде и охране здоровья 2010 г.; План действий по реализации Европейской стратегии по профилактике и борьбе с неинфекционными заболеваниями, 2012–2016 гг. Данное пособие предназначено для помощи в разработке НПДТОСОЗ в странах. В нем предлагаются четыре этапа: планирование, разработка, реализация и оценка. В пособии не представлены конкретные рекомендации по организации процесса выработки общих стратегий и мер политики в отношении экологически устойчивого и здорового транспорта, то есть того процесса, который обычно предшествует разработке НПДТОСОЗ. Пособие содержит практические рекомендации по каждому из четырех этапов (и шаги в рамках каждого этапа) НПДТОСОЗ, а также представляет примеры эффективной практики из стран Европейского региона.

Developing national action plans on transport, health and environment: a step-by-step manual for policy-makers and planners

A national transport, health and environment action plan (NTHEAP) is a key tool and mechanism for developing sustainable and healthy transport in a country. NTHEAPs provide a comprehensive and intersectoral way of planning and implementing transport, environment and health action at the national level. They also call for working across sectors, and action can result in reducing health inequalities, thus contributing to Health 2020, the European policy for health and well-being; the Parma Declaration on Environment and Health; and the action plan for implementation of the European Strategy for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases 2012–2016. This manual was developed to guide NTHEAP development at the country level. It proposes four phases: planning, development, implementation and evaluation. It does not provide specifics on how to establish the general policies or strategies on sustainable and healthy transport, an activity that usually precedes the development of action plans. The manual provides practical advice for each of the phases and steps and highlights good practices from the European Region.

Élaboration de plans nationaux d’action pour les transports, la santé et l’environnement : manuel pas à pas destiné aux décideurs et planificateurs

Un plan national d’action pour les transports, la santé et l’environnement est un moyen essentiel de mettre en place des transports viables et sains dans un pays. Il permet de planifier et de mettre en œuvre, de manière globale et intersectorielle, des mesures relatives aux transports, à l’environnement et à la santé au niveau national. Il appelle également à agir dans tous les secteurs, action qui peut, en réduisant les inégalités de santé, contribuer à la réalisation de Santé 2020, la politique européenne de santé et de bien-être ; de la Déclaration de Parme sur l’environnement et la santé ; et du Plan d’action pour la mise en œuvre de la Stratégie européenne contre les maladies non transmissibles (prévention et lutte) 2012-2016. Le présent manuel a été conçu pour aider à élaborer un tel plan au niveau d’un pays. Il propose quatre phases: planification, élaboration, mise en œuvre et évaluation. Il ne donne pas de détails sur la façon d’établir les politiques ou stratégies générales requises pour assurer des transports viables et sains, activité qui précède habituellement l’élaboration de plans d’action. Il donne, en revanche, des conseils concrets pour chacune des phases et étapes, mettant en lumière les bonnes pratiques de la Région européenne.

Improving children's health and the environment: examples from the WHO European Region

Since the Fourth Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health (Budapest, 2004), the children’s health andenvironment programme of the WHO Regional Office for Europe has been collecting case studies on actions toimprove children’s health and environment. The aim of this exercise was to document experiences in implementingmeasures to address the risk factors covered by the Children’s Environment and Health Action Plan for Europe.These descriptions are intended to serve as examples for future implementation of national children’s environmentand health action plans. This collection of case studies describes initiatives, with the intention of encouragingcountries to share their experiences, focusing on the process of implementing each action, including challengesand lessons learned. Thirty-three case studies from the WHO European Region were selected for inclusion. Thisreport describes them and presents the results of their analysis.

Children’s health and environment: developing action plans

At the Fourth Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health in 2004, the countries in the WHO European Region committed themselves to building a healthy future for their children by adopting the Children’s Environment and Health Action Plan for Europe. It provides a framework for action by the 52 diverse countries in the Region. This book was written to provide the guidance and tools that countries need to carry out the Action Plan at the local and national levels, and Region-wide. The aim is to transform the framework document into national action plans suited to each country’s circumstances, priorities and resources. The book has three parts. Part I provides the scientific evidence on children’s susceptibility to environmental risk factors, and an overview of environmental risk factors and their effects on children’s health. Part II is the core of the publication: tables proposing child-specific actions and therefore concrete ways in which a country can work to reduce children’s exposure to environmental risk factors and improve their health. This gives countries the opportunity to act on their own national priorities, while still addressing Region-wide environmental risk factors. Part III focuses on the tools required to ensure implementation of national action plans. This publication is intended to act as a handbook for countries to use in building a safe and healthy future for all of Europe’s children.

Children's health and environment: case studies summary book: work in progress

"This collection of case studies is meant to enable countries to share their experiences in the planning and implementation of actions to improve children’s health and environment with other member states. Specifically, this project aims to draw attention to actions and implementation experiences carried out at the local and national level as well as highlight the practical elements that made such an action possible and successful. The final aim in collecting the case studies is to provide member states with a collection of relevant examples of actions (with an assessment of the underlying mechanisms and the results achieved) that were prompted by environmental health issues affecting children, to elicit an exchange of experience, inspiration and adaptation to different contexts throughout Europe. Where possible, useful tools and resources that aided the implementation of the given action are documented within the case study. "