Health in All Policies Approaches: Pearls from the Western Pacific Region

Health in All Policies is an approach that seeks to strengthen public policy-making across health and other sectors in order to achieve the most favourable health impacts. There is currently interest in understanding how Health in All Policies is applied in different contexts; whether it makes a difference to policy practices, health outcomes and health equity; and what is required to equip the different sectors to work effectively to improve the health equity impacts of their policies. This article presents findings from a review of domestic policies and practices of Health in All Policies in countries across the World Health Organization Western Pacific Region. The findings illustrate that there is a strong foundation for action, particularly given prior intersectoral action and the important convening point that issues like non-communicable diseases and transport provide for Health in All Policies within the Western Pacific Region. However, the consideration of health equity in Health in All Policies needs more explicit attention. This knowledge can be used for building capacity within the health sector and other sectors to undertake sustainable and effective intersectoral collaboration for improved health equity.