Evaluation of the European strategy for Health for All by the Year 2000.
For the first time ever, Europe has a concrete, comprehensive and forward-looking health policy framework. Forming part of the worldwide movement for Health for All (HFA) by the Year 2000, the European regional HFA strategy, embodied in 38 specific targets. has been developed by the 33 Member States of the WHO European Region. Completed in 1985, the first evaluation of overall progress in implementing this new health policy has shown that the regional targets may be ambitious but they are viable and realistic. Certain countries have already achieved some of the targets, but even in these countries efforts are still needed to improve equity among social groups. Performance in key areas such as orientation towards primary health care and the provision of safe water and adequate sanitary facilities, although improving, is still not at the levels hoped for and these remain priority items. Even more serious difficulties are apparent in other areas such as healthy lifestyles and the quality of care. The quality of the information available, even in an area as developed as Europe, also leaves much to be desired. The gaps and weaknesses identified must be tackled urgently if the goal of HFA is to be achieved, but there are encouraging signs that the HFA movement in Europe has now really started.
D005060:Europe; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006291:Health Policy; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D008019:Life Style; D011634:Public Health / Q000639:trends*