The European Health Report 2005. Public health action for healthier children and populations

Good health is a fundamental resource for social and economic development. Higher levels of human development mean that people live longer and enjoy more healthy years of life.

While the health of the 879 million people in the WHO European Region has in general improved over time, inequalities between the 52 Member States in the Region and between groups within countries have widened. In addition to the east–west gap in health, differences in health between socioeconomic groups have increased in many countries.

Reducing inequality is increasingly vital. As most countries have declining birth rates and growing elderly populations, it is particularly important to help children to avoid ill health and to become resilient enough to remain in good health long into old age.

Special effort should therefore be made to invest in children’s health as much as necessary in any given situation. Dramatic social and economic transformations are underway in countries, communities, families and individuals; these add to the complexity of this challenge. A responsible balance must be struck between current burdens on and future benefits for the
whole population, but investing in children’s health and development is not only a key to the future health of the population but will also reduce inequalities within it. This is the rationale that has inspired this report.

The European health report 2005 contributes to this task by summarizing the major public health issues facing the Region, particularly its children, and describing effective policy responses. This helps to supply the reliable, evidence-based information needed for sound decision-making on public health.

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