Europe commissioned a study on governance for health in the 21st century. mind-sets for viewing and addressing health and its determinants have shifted. Two challenges go hand in hand: (1) the governance of the health system and the strengthening of health systems, which is called health governance; and (2) the joint action of health and non-health sectors, of the public and private sectors and of citizens for a common interest in what is called governance for health. The latter is the subject of this study.
Living in a knowledge society means that power and authority are no longer concentrated in government. Informed citizens, conscientious businesses, independent agencies and expert bodies increasingly have a role to play. nevertheless, governments and health ministries continue to be important in managing governance for health, setting norms, providing evidence and making the healthier choice the easier choice.
We at WHO define governance for health and well-being as the attempts of governments and other actors to steer communities, whole