Investing in public health
Avoidable chronic diseases account for the greatest healthcare and social burden of disease and assessments show that investing in prevention is cost-effective and will reduce short and long -term demands on both health and social care services.
Our focus is the prevention of cardiovascular disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, cancer, overweight and obesity, respiratory disease and hypertensive disease and the shared, modifiable risk factors of physical inactivity, poor nutrition and tobacco and alcohol use.
Our work aims to address the wider economic, social and environmental determinants of disease, taking into account factors like sustainable development and climate change, and addressing inequalities in health.
The links between many of these factors argues for joined-up public health policies which target not just the causes of chronic disease, but the ‘causes of causes’ of those diseases in order to achieve public health gains.
Preventing avoidable chronic disease is a global priority and the NHF continues to explore ways in which we can contribute nationally and internationally.
