Congress report - European Health Forum Gastein

Forum I: Health in other Policies and Sectors
Measuring Progress and Impact
Mojca Grunter Cinc
Abstract
Although Slovenia is a small country it is extremely diverse in terms of geography, culture,
health, economic and social development. Today, the country is in the process of
consolidating and completing its transformation to a competitive market economy, with the
ultimate aim of improving the living standards and quality of life of its citizens and joining
the European Union.
After independence, Slovenia’s political, economic and social systems have undergone
profound changes. These changes have also effected the health care sector. These
developments offer the opportunity to consider the potential contribution of health as a
resource for social and economic development of a young country like Slovenia; to move
health policy beyond health care. If the health of a population will be regarded as an
economic asset then health promotion will be seen as economic investment.
Health is determined by the interplay of wide-ranging factors. To achieve population health
gains broadly based strategy must be employed which requires concerted action by many
different players, including government, many sectors of society, the media, nongovernmental
organisations and other public and private bodies which contribute to
economic activity, social cohesion and human rights.
In 1995, the Parliament of the Republic of Slovenia invited the Intersectional Health
Development Unit (Health Promotion and Investment Unit) of the WHO Regional Office for
Europe to assess Slovenia’s health promoting resources, supporting infrastructures, the
efficacy of existing collaborations, and the options for decision making. The main conclusion
of this group was that Slovenia has great potential for implementing a robust investment for
health approach which is in synergy with its economic and social priorities.
Slovenia joined the Verona Initiative with an aim to further develop and disseminate basic
health promotion concepts and investment in health approach at the local level which was in
line with proposed WHO recommendations. Furthermore, the process of development and
testing the practical tools like benchmarking system to support politicians, policy-makers and
practitioners in implementing the investment in health approach was appealing.
The main lessons learned from the exercise of testing the benchmark model at the local level
in Slovenia will be presented. Also the broader impact of the process at the national level
will be highlighted.
Speech not available.
International Forum Gastein, Tauernplatz 1, A-5630 Bad Hofgastein
Tel.: +43 (6432) 7110-70, Fax: Ext. 71, e-mail: info@ehfg.org, website: www.ehfg.org
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