Health impact assessment

A combination of procedures, methods and tools that systematically judges the potential, and sometimes unintended, effects of a policy, plan, programme or project on the health of a population and the distribution of those effects within the population. HIA identifies appropriate actions to manage those effects (IAIA/WHO 2006, accessed January 2008).
The above definition is an update of the 1999 WHO definition: "combination of procedures, methods and tools by which a policy, programme or project may be judged as to its potential effects on the health of a population, and the distribution of those effects within the population (WHO 1999).
See also: impact assessment

Explanation

Attributes of HIA:

HIA is a predictive planning tool to integrate health considerations into the planning and implementation of development.
As a consequence, the timing of the components making up an HIA is critical in the context of the policy formulation process or the project cycle.
A complete HIA consists of an assessment with conclusions and recommendations, and a public health management plan for the implementation of health safeguards, mitigating measures and health promotion.
HIA is a participatory activity requiring the involvement of all stakeholders, including affected local communities.
HIA is intersectoral by nature and requires effective collaboration between all relevant sectors.

Rationale for HIA:

HIA is sound economics (no transfer of hidden costs of development to the health sector).
HIA helps identify and protect vulnerable groups (the equity principle).
HIA is about risks and opportunities/HIA translates into health protection and health promotion).
HIA fits in a larger frame of good governance and best planning practice (WHO 2009).

WHO (1999) The Gothenburg consensus
IAIA/WHO (2006) Health Impact Assessment: International Best Practice Principles. IAIA Special Publications Series No. 5
WHO (2009) Health impact assessment glossary: E-learning modules