Policy programme for health promotion

Programme as set out in the Government Programme of Vanhanen's second Cabinet 19.4.2007

 

Health is of the greatest value to man. At the same time, it is an important element of competitiveness because a high standard of public health is central to economic, social and human advancement.

 

Over the past three decades, life expectancy has increased by well over seven years for women and close to nine years for men. Despite these positive developments, there are still health problems, some of which are even being aggravated. At the same time, differences in the state of health between various population groups have increased.

 

Recently, there have been special concerns about the increased problems associated with the excessive consumption of alcohol and obesity. Particularly, as far as obesity is concerned, a similar trend can be discerned with children, accompanied by poor physical fitness. The single most important cause of incapacity for work is mental health problems. Symptoms and illnesses due to various species of moulds are causing growing problems as well.

 

Aside from the declining quality of life, society incurs substantial costs as a result of health problems. A considerable part of the problems and illnesses could be avoided through healthpromotion and preventive measures.

 

Finland’s demographic structure will change substantially when the baby-boomers retire. Therefore, in the interest of a functional society, it will be important for children and young people to grow up to be healthy and active adults and that working-age people feel that they have the capacity for work and want to extend their professional careers. It is of equal importance that people, who have gone into or are about to retire, retain their functional capacity as long as possible. By promoting health and preventing related problems, it is possible to gain a range of benefits in this respect in terms of the individual and society as a whole.

 

The objectives of the health-promotion programme are to improve the general state of health of the population and to narrow the health gaps between individuals. In accordance with the thinking suggested in the Health in All Policies programme that has gained a great deal of positive publicity within the Union, the plan is to reinforce the on-going development efforts beyond conventional administrative boundaries. The policy programme will give the possibility of continuing the efforts to promote health and prevent related hazards that, while duly noted in the National Health Care Project, were perhaps neglected to some extent.

 

Issues to be addressed in the context of the programme will include measures to develop the structures geared to promote health and related legislation, promote the well-being of children and the youth, improve the health, functional capacity and workplace welfare of people of working age, promote the health and functional capacity of older people, assign responsibility for preventive efforts and allocate related resources, stress the importance of physical activity and culture for well-being and increase the healthiness of the environment.