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The European Journal of Public Health 2000 10(Supplement 4):11-16; doi:10.1093/eurpub/10.suppl_4.11
© 2000 by European Journal of Public Health
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Health policies on target? Review on health target setting in 18 European countries

Loes M. Van Herten1 and Harry P.A. Van De Water2

1 TNO Prevention and Health Leiden, The Netherlands
2 Formerly: TNO Prevention and Health Leiden, The Netherlands; presently: HELTEF, Nordbyhagen, Norway

Correspondence: Loes M. van Herten, M.Sc, TNO Prevention and Health, PO Box 2215, 2301 CE Leiden, The Netherlands, tel. +31 71 5181674, fax +31 71 5181903

Background: In 1984 the European region of the World Health organisation (WHO) adopted 38 targets within the framework of the ‘Health for All by the Year 2000’ strategy. With the presentation of a renewed Health for All strategy in September 1998, it was considered an appropriate moment to review the use made of health targets in various European countries. This may be helpful in provoking new interest in the health target approach. Methods: A snowball approach was used in each country to gather relevant policy documents, reports and other publications on health policy. In addition, experts' opinions were collected by mailed questionnaires. Draft reviews of target setting in health policy were formulated for each country and were sent to the appropriate Ministry of Health for review before publication. Results: The Health for All strategy has influenced the health policy of almost all countries included in this study. Most countries have formulated some health targets, whereas other countries have formulated some general priorities, goals or objectives as a related but less specific approach. Although many countries have formally adopted the health targets set by the WHO, the degree of elaboration, the focus of the health targets and the practical implementations vary considerably between the countries investigated. Conclusion: Many countries have formally adopted health targets. Health targets, as a tool in health policy, are mostly used at a political level and,their practical use seems to be in its infancy and can be considered as ‘the promising beginning of a development’.

Keywords: European countries, evaluation study, Health for All strategy, health policy, health targets


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