Non-medical Determinants of Health Often Neglected
Historical Study

Ottawa, October 19, 2000 –

The current focus on reform of Canada s health care
system is once again stealing the stage from equally important
non-medical determinants of the health of Canadians.

A new discussion paper released today by CPRN puts today s debate
in historical context. Seen in that light, it is one more chapter
in a 25-year struggle between the demands of the health care
system and investments in  population health,  the non-medical
determinants of health. These are investments designed
to prevent the onset of illness. They include such things as
anti-poverty measures, supports to healthy child development, a
clean environment, economic and social equality, housing,
education and decent jobs in safe workplaces.

 Health beyond Health Care: Twenty-five Years of Federal Health
Policy Development,  by consultant Barbara Legowski, and CPRN
researcher Lindsey McKay, is an analysis of the history of
non-medical health policy development within the federal
government.

A part of the Towards a New Perspective on Health Policy project
of CPRN s Health Network, this study is essential background
reading for anyone interested in how Canada s health policy has
developed.

>From the time of the Lalonde Report in 1974, which argued that
healthier lifestyles, better nutrition and a healthier physical
environment play a greater role in health than the advancement of
medicine, federal health experts have tried to turn that
understanding into policies and programs.

There have been successes, with health promotion programs in the
1970s and 1980s aimed at drinking and driving, seat belt use, or
smoking. And, more recently, a major impetus for the growing
public investment in national early childhood programs is their
beneficial impact on health.

But a perennial emphasis on health care has detracted from
policies designed to prevent poor health to begin with. So, more
than 25 years after Lalonde, there is still plenty of room for
investment in health, in addition to health care.

The current paper identifies the conditions that foster policy
innovations within the public sector, the barriers to
implementation of population health insights and the challenges
ahead.

 It is perhaps natural that the health care system gets the
lion s share of attention,  says Sholom Glouberman, Director of
CPRN s Health Network.  That s where most of us encounter health
issues in a direct way. But if we could raise public awareness of
the tremendous health benefits of investment in our social
and physical environments, we might have a more fruitful debate
over where our next health dollar should go.

To view the full report on the CPRN Web site, simply click here:

http://lists.magma.ca:8080/T/A17.44.112.1.1427