Books in the European Health for All Series series

Sets out a comprehensive policy framework centred around 21 precise targets for improving the health of Europeans in the 21st century. While realistic in its assessment of current problems and their causes, the book adopts an optimistic approach, arguing that Europe is poised - for the first time in its history - to make human development its main social priority in the coming century. Most targets give goals to be reached by the year 2020.

This book is the third update of the Health for All policy framework for the WHO European Region, adopted in September 2005. This concluded two years of work integrating the new knowledge accumulated since the previous update in 1998 and incorporating the results from broad consultations with countries and key partner agencies. This 2005 update develops the concept of ethical, values-based governance. It also offers policy-makers the potential to put values into practice and action. A set of concrete tools is proposed that can be used to check national health policies or national health systems for their respect for certain rights and values. The update calls for an open-ended Health for All process a forum for exchanging experiences, examples and case studies of national Health for All activities that countries themselves choose to carry out. In this regard, the 2005 update may be used as a tool for promoting the ethical development of national health policies, in a way that is pragmatic and useful, ensuring the continuous evolution of Health for All in the European Region.