HEALTH PROMOTION PACKAGES - Sundhedsstyrelsen

more inspiration is available. All titles have been translated into English to facilitateunderstanding, but they may link to information in Danish.1.4 ImplementationWhen the municipalities implement the health promotion packages, they will probablyneed to set priorities among the various health promotion packages and amongthe individual recommendations according to the local health challenges, opportunitiesand political will. It is advocated that the packages be implemented acrossadministrative sectors to integrate the recommended measures in the municipalities’existing core services and policies.The health promotion packages could help to inspire municipalities to formulate,qualify and monitor visible targets for health promotion and prevention action.The process of ensuring the appropriate volume of recommended actions is considereda key element in quality development. Ideally, the health-related challenges ofthe municipality, the health goals of the municipality and the volume of local preventiveinterventions as recommended in the packages should be clearly correlated.Capacity-building is another key element in the municipalities’ development ofquality. The personnel competencies required to implement the packages includegeneral planning skills and skills specific to health promotion and disease prevention,especially among the municipal frontline workers who meet the citizens faceto face.Finally, it is recommended that the municipalities document the processes of andeffects in implementing the health promotion packages to facilitate municipal qualitydevelopment and to generate new evidence for the mutual benefit of all. Thiscan be done in collaboration with other municipalities or in partnership with researchinstitutions.1.5 ProcessThe Danish Health and Medicines Authority developed the health promotion packagesin cooperation with scientific experts, including experts from Denmark’s municipalities.The packages were presented widely for public consultation, and thepackages have generally been well received. Many municipalities have chosen tobenchmark their current activities with the recommendations of the health promotionpackages, thereby identifying gaps and priority areas for future interventions.Each health promotion package spans 20–30 pages and can be downloaded (inDanish) from the website of the Danish Health and Medicines Authority atwww.sst.dk under Sundhed og forebyggelse – Kommunal sundhedsplanlægning– Sundhedsstyrelsens forebyggelsespakker. Print versions have been sent to allmunicipalities, and further copies may be ordered from the website.A cross-cutting target group overview with the packages’ recommendations dividedaccording to target groups (toddlers, schoolchildren, youth, adults and olderpeople) has been prepared in Danish and is published at www.sst.dk.Health promotion packages in Denmark – introduction and recommendations 6