Health Impact Assessment: A Creative Approach to Decision Making

What is Health Impact Assessment (HIA) and how does it help in decision making processes?

Health Impact Assessment (HIA) is an alternative approach to incorporating cumulative impacts into decision making. A practical method known as the Assessment of Health Impacts (HIA) is employed to assess the possible health impacts of a policy or programme. The HIA is a valuable tool for determining how a proposed action will impact a population's health, especially vulnerable groups.

Health Impact Assessment (HIA) is a process that helps in assessing the potential health effects of a policy, plan, program, or project before it is implemented. By evaluating the impact on population health and equality, HIA provides suggestions and recommendations to decision-makers, using a structured procedure for stakeholder discussion.

The HIA process consists of six primary stages: screening, scoping, appraisal (risk assessment), formulation of suggestions, report preparation, submission of the report and recommendations to decision-makers, monitoring, and evaluation. This systematic approach ensures that the health implications of a decision are thoroughly analyzed and considered.

The four key characteristics of HIA are: evaluating a policy proposal to assess population health and equality impacts, offering suggestions for improvement, using a structured procedure for stakeholder engagement, and providing recommendations for decision-making. By integrating HIA into decision-making processes, policymakers can make informed choices that prioritize public health and well-being.