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Country/JA: Spain flag Spain
Action type: Policy initiative

Problem: Health promotion and prevention of chronic diseases and related factors such as healthy diets, physical activity, tobacco, alcohol, injuries and others is key role of municipalities.

Objective: To promote healthy environments and lifestyles through intersectoral action in health at the local community level.

Implementation status: Fully implemented action


Key Contextual Factors

  • Within the framework of the implementation plan of the Strategy for Addressing Chronicity in the National Health System, the Ministry of Health developed the EPSP to promote the health and well-being of the population by fostering healthy environments and lifestyles.
  • The local public sphere was considered an essential environment from the outset: the EPSP includes a proposal for local implementation, aligned with the joint work of years of evolution with the Spanish Network of Healthy Cities in line with the European Network of Healthy Cities.

Key Components/Steps

  • EPSP approval by the Ministry of Health (2013).
  • Guide to the Local Implementation of EPSP (2014).
  • On-line map of community resources (LOCATE health) (2014).
  • Call for proposals (2014).
  • On-line training (Local Health Course) for local leaders (2015).

Main Impacts / Added Value

The local implementation of the EPSP starts with:

  • Political commitment from the council to join the EPSP and work in line with health promotion.
  • Implementation and development of an intersectoral coordination table (health, education, social welfare, transport, urban planning, sports, environment...).
  • Implementation and development of community resources for health (resource mapping).

Thus, it proposes:

  • A  common, dynamic and flexible framework that makes it possible to strengthen intersectoral action and "Health in All Policies".
  • Promotion of healthy lifestyles, citizen participation and community health.

Lessons Learned

  • Success factors:
    • Providing tools to the On-line map of community resources available to Local Authorities (EELL): guide, on-line map (LOCATE health), annual call for proposals, training.
    • Technical support.
    • Evaluation : 2 evaluations through an on-line questionnaire sent to local officials.
    • Exchange of experiences.
  • Main areas of improvement:
    • Intersectoral coordination and integrating equity between the levels of the Administration.
    • Reinforce citizen participation.
  • Main results:
    • 223 municipalities adhered (and 131 in process).
    • 191 intersectoral coordination roundtables.
    • 12,650 community resources published on the map LOCATE health.
    • Local Health Course: 8,317 participants (rating: 8.3/10).
    • 6 National days.