Health Impact Assessment - the Opportunities to Address Current Issues in Health Policy
This paper focus on Health Impact Assessment (HIA) as an important approach in health policy and public health to evaluate policies, plans, projects, strategies and to determine their actual and potential impacts on health and distribution of health effects among general population. HIA provides decision makers, health professionals and the general public with evidence-based information resources on health effects of decision-making process. The aim of this consideration is to present the usefulness and need for HIA within policy and decision-making. Selected case studies concerning key areas of public authorities activities are presented based on projects findings and literature review. There are significant evidences of strong relations between health outcomes and policy-making process. Policy may influence the determinants of the health of the population through environmental, socio-economic, cultural, living and working conditions. The Health Impact Assessment is useful tool of identification and highlighting the health issues beyond the health-care sector, i.e.: urban planning, infrastructure, transport, housing, agriculture, industry, environment.
