Healthy Societies: Addressing 21st Century Health Challenges

Prepared by Professor Ilona Kickbusch, Adelaide Thinker in Residence Department of the Premier and Cabinet
May 2008 - State of South Australia

Available online PDF [62p.] at: http://www.thinkers.sa.gov.au/images/Kickbusch_Final_Report.pdf

“……..Discussing the state of health at the beginning of the 21st century is not dissimilar to discussing the state of the environment. Both are in crisis and run counter to the notion of sustainable wellbeing, both focus around the ways of life that have developed in our societies and both indicate that significant changes are required at the level of policy and of society. As regards the environment we have begun to realise that our way of life and use of energy is endangering the planet and its resources, and that it can endanger our health by destroying life support systems such as water.

What we have yet to fully understand is how our way of life and use of energy in the 21st century is counterproductive to our health and wellbeing in a very direct way. We are at a turning point in health policy. It has become increasingly clear that changes in the existing health care system will not be sufficient to maintain and improve our health. Both our extensive knowledge about what creates health, as well as the exponentially rising rates of chronic disease, obesity and mental health problems, indicate that we need to shift course and apply a radically new mindset to health.

Speed is essential, and if we do not take rapid action to invest in health and human wellbeing our societies will face a double jeopardy: we will not be able to afford the rising health care expenditure and we will not be able to guarantee the coming generations a healthier life. As a consequence, health inequalities will increase significantly and undermine the democratic promise of health as a right of citizenship. Some warning voices state that the present generation of children – born at the turn of the century – might be the first to have a lower life expectancy than their parents. After the extraordinary gains in health and longevity over the last 100 years, such a development would indeed represent a phenomenal failure.

My challenge was to turn this broad concern with societal change and health determinants into manageable policy principles and approaches. After listening and learning during my residency I chose to concentrate the strategic vision on three interconnected priority principles: health sustainability, health equity and health in all policies………”

Content:

Introduction The process of ‘Thinking’ together 7

Ten key directions forward

Wellbeing: a central challenge for 21st century societies

Healthy people – healthy economy
Health and medical tourism

Changing mindsets: addressing the determinants of health
The classic determinants of health
Determinants of Aboriginal health
21st century health determinants
The key health sustainability challenges of 21st century societies

Health in All Policies
The South Australian Health in All Policies approach
A health lens on South Australia’s Strategic Plan
Policy learning April–November 2007
Health in All Policies Conference – November 2007
The Health in All Policies Forum – February 2008
Health in All Policies: the ten principles
The next step: taking Health in All Policies to the local level

Generation H!SA: investing in children
The Generation H!SA model: a strategic approach
The strategy: developing synergies and strengthening policy mechanisms
Healthy public policy for children: a Children’s Health Act
Generation H: their voice

Health literacy: addressing the double inequity

Health and wellbeing partnerships
Mobility, health and equity
Health, wellbeing and equity: Aboriginal health
Body image and eating disorders

Health research in South Australia: future directions
Health research priorities
Centre for Intergenerational Health
Glossary of terms

Source: Ilona Kickbusch
Healthy Societies: Addressing 21st Century Health Challenges, 2008