heilsueflingu

Heilsuefling, or health promotion, is the process of enabling individuals and communities to increase control over and improve their health. It addresses not only healthcare services but also the social, economic, environmental, and political factors that shape health outcomes and supports healthier choices through inclusive policies, healthy environments, and community action.

The concept rose to prominence with the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion (1986) and the work of the World Health Organization, which define health promotion as enabling people to take control of their health. In Iceland, heilsuefling is embedded in national health strategies and municipal programs, reflecting aims of reducing health inequities and promoting wellbeing.

Key principles include empowerment, participation, equity, intersectoral collaboration, and a settings-based approach that targets schools, workplaces, neighborhoods, and healthcare facilities. Strategies combine health education with policy development, environmental and institutional changes, and community development to create conditions that support healthy behaviors rather than focusing solely on individuals.

Implementation involves government agencies, healthcare providers, schools, workplaces, and civil society groups working together to address broader determinants of health. Evaluation emphasizes process, reach, and intermediate outcomes such as changes in risk factors or self-reported well-being, while recognizing that many health gains emerge only over time. Challenges include limited resources, measurement difficulties, and balancing personal autonomy with public health goals.

See also: health promotion, public health, health education, social determinants of health.