Guide for Investing in Health Promotion

The guide intends to help you to invest in health promotion and to argue for systems change which elevates the promotion of planetary and human health.

The guide aims to inspire through relevant resources and a body of evidence that includes examples from across Europe and the world.

Who is this guide for?

  • health and social care planners
  • authorities
  • policymakers at national, regional and local levels

The Guide for Investing in Health Promotion has three central objectives: 

The Guide for Investing in Health Promotion has three central objectives: 

1

To illustrate the value of a new narrative that elevates health promotion and protects human and planetary health 

2

To provide practical advice on mobilising resources to invest in and strengthen health promoting services.

3

To support the implementation of new models to increase investment in health promotion  

Why health promotion matters

Arrow orange (800 x 200 px) (1)

Despite the proven benefits of prevention, current national expenditure on health promotion remains strikingly low, at less than 3% of healthcare budgets while over 80% is spent on treatment.

This imbalance is a missed opportunity: by investing in health promotion, we can prevent illnesses before they arise, save costs, and improve overall wellbeing. Resources for prevention should therefore be understood as a smart investment, not a cost. 

Investing in health promotion

Arrow orange (800 x 200 px) (1)

Our economic and health systems are not fit-for-purpose and misaligned with the realities of both human and planetary health. Conventional incentives for growth are leading to practices that are harming our wellbeing and environment, making it clear that a shift in priorities is required.

We need to reframe health funding from an expenditure to an investment in a healthy society and sustainable future. With new concepts and narratives emerging, there are bright spots on the horizon. 

Implementing change

Arrow orange (800 x 200 px) (1)

The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated that public health professionals have an important role to play in leading and coordinating responses to crises. Yet despite their importance, health budgets are shrinking, which means that we need to think about bolder and more innovative ways to address growing health inequalities.

In this resource-limited landscape, the best outcomes are achieved when health planners, implementers and investors collaborate on health and social investment.

Callout Card

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, adipiscing elit. Aliquam elementum arcu.

Callout Card

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, adipiscing elit. Aliquam elementum arcu.

In this guide, we aim to offer:  

A clear understanding of why investing in health promotion is smart and effective.

Concrete, ‘out-of-the-box’ examples of how to mobilise investment in health promotion and disease prevention from public and private sources.

Encouragement to build alliances, connections and bridges within and across sectors.

Advocacy arguments and other resources to help you plan and achieve change in your local context  

The need is urgent, the knowledge is here, and the chance to act is now.

Let’s get started. 

About EuroHealthNet

Building a healthier future for all by addressing the determinants of health and reducing inequalities.

EuroHealthNet is the Partnership of public health agencies and organisations building a healthier future for all by addressing the determinants of health and reducing inequalities. Our focus is on preventing disease and promoting good health by looking within and beyond the health system.

Structuring our work over a policy, a practice, and a research platform, we focus on exploring and strengthening the links between these areas.

Our approach focuses on integrated concepts to health, reducing health inequality gaps and gradients, working on determinants across the life course, whilst contributing to the sustainability and wellbeing of people and the planet.

Venn-diagram-new-colours-dark-background-2048x2048
EN-V-Co-funded-by_WHITE-Outline

EuroHealthNet is co-funded by the European Union. However, the information and views set out on this website are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of the European Commission. The Commission does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included on this website. Neither the Commission nor any person acting on the Commission's behalf may be held responsible for the use which may be made of the information contained therein.

Scroll to Top