How can we bring public health in all policies? Strategies for healthy societies

New scenarios are emerging in the European and worldwide context: the ageing of society, the climate changes, the increasing of health inequalities and the financial crisis. In this context, the scientific community and the decision-makers agree on the role of health in all policies (HiAP) strategy in improving the population's health. The HiAP takes into account factors not strictly related to health but with important health consequences. To bring public health in all policies a change is needed, but there are some obstacles to overcome: for instance, the lack of evidence regarding the governance tools and frameworks for HiAP, the difficulty of convincing stakeholders and producing a cultural change in the political positioning of decision-makers. Consequently, it is necessary: i) to implement stronger and responsible decision-support approaches, such as health impact assessment and health technology assessment; ii) to encourage and coordinate all relevant sectors in playing their part in reducing health gaps within the European Union; iii) to strengthen cooperation and make better use of existing networks and existing public health and related institutions. The final aim will be to monitor the impact of the health determinants in order to promote the effective implementation of HiAP approach. Significance for public healthThis paper makes public health professionals aware of the pivotal role that they could play in reducing health inequalities and in helping to overcome the crisis of the European health systems. It discusses how, thanks to a systematic approach based on new instruments like health impact assessment and health technology assessment, and thanks also to a stronger cooperation among stakeholders and policy makers, it is possible to monitor the health determinants and consequently to bring health in all policies.