Priority areas
The Health 2020 policy framework proposes four priority areas for policy action based on the global priorities set for WHO by its Member States, and aligned to address the special requirements and experiences of the European Region. These areas also build on relevant WHO strategies and action plans at the regional and global levels.
The four priority areas are to:
- invest in health through a life-course approach and empower citizens,
- tackle Europe’s major disease burdens of noncommunicable and communicable diseases;
- strengthen people-centred health systems and public health capacity, including preparedness and response capacity for dealing with emergencies; and
- create supportive environments and resilient communities.
These are not isolated areas of action but are frequently interdependent and mutually supportive. Addressing them requires combining governance approaches – hierarchical, dispersed and participatory – to make health and well-being possible for everyone.
