Health is “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease”. Delivery of health care services tends to dominate discussion of health policy however a better balance is needed between the needs of the health care delivery system and the need for action on broad social, environment, transport and educational policies (the wider determinants of health) that have a greater impact on health in the long term. Therefore the Green Party has developed this specific document dealing with health promotion and protection.
Health policy must be based on the principle that sustainable human health is founded on the health of this earth and all that lives in it. We must care for our health in ways that conserve a wholesome environment and climate for future generations.The Green Party supports a rights based approach to health. The right to health means that every person should have a reasonable opportunity to make choices to maximise their own health and their family’s health. The way we use public resources for health must be transparent and ensure equity for all based on need. Citizens have rights but also have responsibility to do what they can to protect their own health and the health of others.
The Green Party is committed to the goal of equity of outcomes in health as well as to fairness in opportunities and services for health and that health policy must welcome and support diversity and ensure that goods and services are offered in a culturally sensitive way.
Certain basic conditions and resources must exist to enable/empower people to improve their health. These prerequisites are (a) peace, (b)shelter, (c) education, (d) food, (e) income and employment, (f) a stable eco-system and sustainable resources, and (g) social justice and equity the most important measures we could take in Ireland to improve the overall health of the population and to achieve a fair opportunity for all to enjoy health is to make sure that these basic pre-conditions are met for the greatest possible number of our people. The Green Party supports the Health In All Policies (HIAP) principle in the European Commission White Paper “Together for Health”.
Health promotion is the process of helping people to “increase control over, and to improve their health.” One part of the promoting health is the provision of health related information. There is a need for a trusted, independent, authoritative and balanced source of health related information. This is one function of an integrated and independent Public Health Service system. The Green Party recognises the primacy of the scientific model and of scientific evidence in developing and providing health information but recognises the contribution that is made by alternative concepts of health and disease. Measures to support people to act on health related messages must be provided and the effectiveness of such interventions should be evaluated in terms of their effectiveness, costs and benefits.
Health promotion must address poverty, social inclusion and discrimination. Government policy on poverty reduction should set clear targets against which performance can be measured. Work performed in as safe, secure, and supportive enviroment promotes health and a sense of well being. The Green Party is committed to facilitating highest possible levels of employment, and providing access to supported and meaningful employment for those who are out of work.
“The experience of family living is the single greatest influence on an individual’s life”. The provision of support for families, particularly families in difficulty, so as to minimise the risk of and scale of emotional damage is far better than trying to heal the harm after it has occurred.
A well-resourced Public Health Service system that is independent of the Ministry of Health and Children and of the health care delivery system is needed to drive the agenda of health promotion and protection. The Green Party supports the expansion of the immunisation programme implemented in 2008 and advocates the further roll out of safe and effective vaccines as they become available.
The Green Party supports measures that encourage the use of and improve access to fresh unprocessed foods including provision of public allotments and space for farmers markets and supports the implementation of the “Sydney Principles” in Ireland to reduce the commercial promotion of food and beverages to children. The Green Party favours the phasing out of water fluoridation and strict monitoring of levels where fluoridation is practiced.
The Green Party recognises that the abuse of alcohol, tobacco, other drugs and of gambling have a profound impact on public health and supports a broad range of public policy measures to address these issues.
Sexual and reproductive health are closely related areas that are vital to overall health and well-being. Access to fertility regulation and services to ensure healthy pregnancy and childbirth as well as the prevention and control of sexually transmitted infection are basic requirements for health but a wider perspective on sexual heath is also important including the need to improve education and information related to sexual health.
Research on the wider determinants of health and on the efficacy of interventions and programmes to promote and protect health form an important element of an evidence-based approach to policy making and these areas deserve a higher priority than they have traditionally received.
Health promotion and health protection services including education and training programmes and immunisation services should be free at the point of access and regular audit must be performed to ensure equitable access and utilisation of services by all groups in society.