Pawson R, Greenhalgh T, Harvey G, Walshe K.

This paper offers a model of research synthesis which is designed to work with complex social interventions or programmes, and which is based on the emerging 'realist' approach to evaluation. It provides an explanatory analysis aimed at discerning what works for whom, in what circumstances, in what respects and how.

Dr Margaret Chan, WHO Director-General, addressed health promotion conference at the 8th Global Conference on Health Promotion in Helsinki, Finland on the 10th June 2013.

Author: Global Thematic Consultation on Health

The ‘Health in the Post-2015 Agenda’ from the Global Thematic Consultation on Health (led by WHO and UNICEF) states that the post-2015 health agenda should:

1) Include specific health-related targets as part of other development sector goals.

2) Take a holistic, life-course approach to people’s health with an emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention.

3) Accelerate progress where MDG targets have not been achieved and set more ambitious targets for the period to come.

4) Address the growing burden of NCDs, mental illness, and other emerging health challenges.

This is the first time mental illness has been explicitly included in the Post-MDG agenda.

Author: WHO Regional Office for Europe

While the overall level of health across the WHO European Region has clearly improved, European health statistics show inequities within and between countries, according to the European health report 2012. The report is WHO/Europe’s flagship publication, issued every three years.

The report covers the Region’s 53 countries and nearly 900 million people, revealing that people are living longer and healthier lives. Life expectancy is rising across the Region, increasing by 5 years since 1980 to reach 76 years in 2010.

Author: Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, Finland

‘Health in All Policies (HiAP): Seizing opportunities, implementing policies’, published by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health of Finland, identifies practical opportunities and challenges for raising health on political agendas. It stresses the importance of seizing opportunities for negotiating and implementing feasible policy solutions.