The project "Scientific Accompanying Research of the Health Action Program" was carried out by a research team at ASH Berlin and the Berlin School of Public Health on behalf of the Senate Department for Science, Health and Care. Cooperation partners were the Berlin Institute of Health and Social Sciences and the European Institute for Social and Health Research at ASH Berlin.
The Action Program Health (APG) was established in 2014 by resolution of the Berlin House of Representatives in order to strengthen health promotion and prevention in the state of Berlin both at state level and in the districts and thus come closer to the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 of Agenda 2030 Health for All (United Nations 2015). In particular, the needs of all Berliners in socially disadvantaged life situations, e.g. people with special health risks and increased health support needs, are to be taken into account.
The research team, which evaluated the APG from November 2021 to July 2022, presents the potential and limitations of the action program in the final report and formulates recommendations for further development. The researchers conclude that the structure created by the APG has developed a leverage effect that has helped to strengthen city-wide health promotion and prevention measures in Berlin. However, there is hardly any knowledge of the APG in civil society. This means that the individual projects do not necessarily know about each other.
Here are some recommendations that the researchers have formulated for the further development of the APG:
- The Senate Administration is recommended to develop a public relations concept for the APG in order to increase transparency and public acceptance of the focal points for action.
- In order to underline the importance of the APG for strengthening health promotion and prevention in the state of Berlin, the state program should be given its own budget title in the state budget.
- In order to minimize barriers for project sponsors when submitting applications, information events should be offered and the establishment of a service structure should be examined.
The full final report (short/long form) can be downloaded here: