1. NDPHS EG Group on Horizontal Cooperation
Dr Mikko Vienonen, M.D., Ph.D.
Consultant in Public Health
17th meeting of the NDPHS Committee of Senior Representatives
Moscow, Russia
29-30 June 2010
Document CSR 17/6.1g/1
NDPHS EG Group on Horizontal Cooperation
on Lifestyle-related non-communicable diseases
and good social and work environments (“HOC”)

2. Proposals of EGTOR to the CSR (4,4a&4b)
A new Expert Group on Horizontal Cooperation on Lifestyle-related Non-Communicable Diseases and Good Social and Work Environments (HOC EG) be established
The current SIHLWA Sub-group on Occupation Health and Safety (SIHLWA-OSH) be transformed to a Task Group on Occupational Safety and Health (OSH TG)
A new Task Group on Indigenous Mental Health, Addictions and Parenting (IMHAP TG) be established

3. CSR
Old SIHLWA
ALC
OSH
IMHAP
ADO

4. Non-communicable Diseases
New Option
2010  ”HOC-EG”
Expert Group on
Lifestyle-related
Non-communicable Diseases
(NCD)
and Good Social and
Work Environments
CSR
EG-HOC
OSH TG
IMHAP TG
OSH and IMHAP will report to CSR through HOC EG and also receive other types of logistic support for organizing e.g. meetings

5. Overall structure of NDPHS EGs &TGs 2010 
PROPOSAL
CSR EG
HOC
FIN
(LTU) EG
ALC-POL
NOR
(RUS) EG
PHC
SWE
(RUS) EG
HIV/AIDS
FIN
(POL)
Horizontal cooperation on healthy lifestyles re. AREA 4 TG
ALC FLAG-SHIP
SWE
(XXX?)
TG OSH
ILO
(LTU) TG
ANTIB. RESIST.
SWE
(XXX?)
TG IMHAP
CAN (NCM)

6. NDPHS EG Group on Horizontal Cooperation on Lifestyle-related non-communicable diseases and good social and work environments (“HOC”)
Establishing EG on “HOC” would emphasize the horizontal and cooperative nature of healthy lifestyle promotion, the NCD prevention, and and management of chronic NCDs .

7. HOC-EG Objectives
The main role of the Expert Group is to act as a focal point for national inputs from the Partner Countries and Organisations for the Thematic area 4: Lifestyle-related NCDs and good social and work environments in coordination with the responsible Expert Groups.
In this capacity, the overall objective of the HOC Expert Group is to support the responsible Expert Groups through facilitation of horizontal cooperation of the work towards the achievement of Goals 7-11 stated in the NDPHS Strategy Thematic area.
Further, the Expert Group will contribute to the implementation of the Operational Targets specified within Goal 1 and other relevant thematic Goals.

8. HOC-EG SUMMARY Scope of Responsibilities
to facilitate horizontal collaboration between EGs;
to assist in strategy and policy planning for the Partnership;
to develop strong partnerships with a wide variety of stakeholders;
to develop strategic future visions for the Partnership in coordination with EGs;
to stablish and maintain relations within the Partner Countries and Organisations as well as with international and national organisations, and other institutions;
to facilitate lifestyle and social wellbeing and work environment related WHO and ILO Declarations and Conventions such as, e.g., on Tobacco, Alcohol, Obesity/Nutrition, Mental Health, Accidents & Violence, NCD, etc.
(continued)

9. HOC-EG SUMMARY Scope of Responsibilities (continued)
to improve the general awareness of and increase positive attitudes towards health promotion, NCD prevention and management;
to promote healthy lifestyles promotion and NCD prevention oriented service systems and health sector reforms with attention to populations at risk;
to contribute to the development of national policies that respond to the needs and requirements of the Partner Countries;
to map Member Countries’ needs for technical and financial support to scale-up national programmes;
to formulate and develop ideas for project proposals (including flagship project), facilitate the project application, and follow-up on their implementation:

10. MOTTO: HAVING ACTIVITIES IS NOT ENOUGH - ONLY RESULTS WILL COUNT!
HOC-EG SUMMARY Outputs and Results
to advise the Partnership through the NDPHS Secretariat on related Partnership activities and proposals for various forms of support;
to facilitate the exchange of information on programmes and projects;
to provide expert contributions to policy evaluation;
to promote partnership-building and activities relevant to achieving the goals of the Partnership;
to promote regional synergies and synergies with other international organisations;
to monitor and peer evaluate ongoing activities.
MOTTO: HAVING ACTIVITIES IS NOT ENOUGH - ONLY RESULTS WILL COUNT!

11. Dalai Lama has crystallized an individual group’s value, which many may consider as zero:
“ If you think that you are too small to make an impact, then try to sleep in a room together with a mosquito”

12. Maintaining the focus on prevention
Investment in public health and prevention is trending downwards in some countries in our region after years of concerted upstream efforts.
HOC-EG wishes to emphasize its concern that the valuable progress achieved over the last decades is still fragile and can easily be undone if efforts are not maintained.

13. Source: Norwegian Ministry of health Care Services, 2007
Inequities in health and social gradient
This was a document that was presented to the Storting (Norwegian Parliament) on the issue of socially caused health inequities. Similar policy documents have been developed also by the other Nordic countries. The permanence and increase (or decrease) of health inequities is an indication of quality and performance of health care and more in general health systems and government. In order to address health inequities we need to address the determinants of health. NEXT SLIDE
Source: Norwegian Ministry of health Care Services, 2007

14. As you all know, in 2006 Finland chose the topic of “Health in All Policies” as the major health topic during their turn of EU Presidency. Today HiAP is one of the principles of health policy at the EU level. HiAP is very important, but probably we need to concretely focus on Health EQUITY in All Policies. NEXT SLIDE This is one of the main lessons from the global Commission on Social Determinants of Health chaired by Prof Sir Michael Marmot and its final report in 2008 and the 2009 WHO Resolution on Tackling Health Inequities through a Social Determinants of Health.

15. HOC-EG General Representation and Participation
AS TO OTHER EGs: the HOC-EG will include one representative from each interested Partner Country and Organisation ( alternates ).
IN ADDITION: the Area 4 Expert/Task Group Chairs and Co-chairs will be invited to HOC-EG meetings as full members.
IN ADDITION: special effort will be made in order that from each Partner Country at least one prominent, well-known expert with considerable prestige and over-arching respect based on proven career on national and international fora on healthy lifestyle and social well-being (“wise men” and “wise women”) would be invited to the HOC EG. Their advise and voice would be needed for the societal advocacy of the messages, In order to contract such persons, it will be evident that HOC EG meetings will frequently need to use video-conferencing facilities.

16. Thank you for your attention16