EuroHealthNet Guide for Financing Prevention and Health Promotion
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How to finance prevention and health promotion?
Today’s challenges — from pandemic recovery to climate change — make clear that investing in health promotion isn’t just a policy choice, it’s a necessity. Yet only 3% of national health budgets go to prevention, while the vast majority is spent on treatment. We need new approaches that put health promotion – the active creation of health - at the heart of our systems and economies.
In this section, you will find concepts for systemic change and practical examples showing how to smarter mobilise existing resources and new funding for health promotion.
We go beyond making the case for prevention and health promotion - we offer actionable ways to finance it and explore ideas to change systems and practical tools to turn vision into action.
In this section
2.1 Concepts for systemic change
New ideas are reshaping how we think about health. By valuing health and placing wellbeing at the heart of economic and social policies, these emerging approaches open the door to smarter, fairer ways to fund prevention and health promotion. They invite us to shift mindsets, plan for the long term, and work across sectors to build healthier, fairer societies.
From the Wellbeing Economy to Smart Capacitating Investment — these ideas demonstrate how shifting mindsets and financial structures can unlock more and better funding for prevention.
2.2 Practical examples
By exploring real-world case studies and financing mechanisms, this section will also show how public health professionals, planners, and policymakers can:
- Build cross-sectoral alliances
- Align incentives across sectors and systems
- Repurpose and pool existing funds
- Implement fiscal and legislative measures
- Mobilise community resources
- Leverage social and impact investment
- Use finance models like social outcomes funds
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.
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.