[Health in all policies in the Valencian Community: steps towards the health impact assessment]

Abstract

This paper describes the beginning of the implementation process of the health impact assessment in the Valencian Community (Spain), as an instrument to incorporate the framework of social determinants and health inequalities in the policies issued by the different departments of the Valencian government. The proposal involves: 1) political commitment, with legislative and strategic planning actions; 2) the creation of structures to allow intersectoral collaboration, with the establishment of the health impact assessment commission and the intersectoral technical committee; and 3) the design and validation of a tool for the simplified health impact assessment of non-health policies adapted to the Valencian Community. We highlight the importance of the participatory methodology used in the whole process and the potential of the health impact assessment for the development of public policies oriented to improve health and equity.

Keywords: Determinantes sociales de la salud; Equidad en salud; Evaluación del impacto en salud; Health equity; Health impact assessment; Políticas públicas; Public policy; Social determinants of health.