Health impact assessment

There is growing concern about the environmental, social and health consequences of development projects. Environmental impact assessment (EIA), which aims to address this concern, is often conducted with little input from the health sector. Quantifying the health benefits and risks of a project or policy requires an innovative synthesis of socio-demographic, environmental health, epidemiological and health systems data. This article provides a simple framework for health impact assessment (HIA), a method for describing and measuring the impact of a project or policy on health and wellbeing, and designing appropriate interventions. The key components of HIA are: review of available data; research and identification of priority health issues through the use of rapid assessment methods; design of a health action plan with stakeholder consultation; implementation of interventions and the monitoring of long-term health impacts. HIA can assist in ensuring that development and policies are 'health promoting' and that the health sector plays a meaningful role in EIA.