Intersectoral action for health

Health and quality of life in cities are determined by a complex net of interrelated factors. For instance, risk factors for noncommunicable diseases include many social, environmental and economic aspects such as education, transportation, and employment. Such complexity means that measures to promote health and well-being cannot be confined to the health sector alone.

Intersectoral action for health refers to the inclusion of several sectors in addition to the health sector when designing and implementing public policies to improve quality of life. An important objective of intersectoral action is to achieve greater awareness of health and health equity consequences of policy decisions and organizational practice in different sectors and through this move in the direction of healthy public policy and practice across sectors.