[Bavarian Centre for Health: Health-related Prevention - Pragmatic and Need-oriented]

The idea of improving population health by means of collective action and prevention of diseases in 1973 resulted in the decision of the Bavarian Parliament to establish a "Bavarian Centre for Health Education". According to its statutes, the aim was to promote the cooperation between institutions and organizations working in the field of public health and health education in Bavaria and to make their efforts effective by information, organization and coordination. The work of the 1970s and 80s was largely based on risk factor model, using methods of information and deterrence. The findings of salutogenesis led to changes in the methods of disease prevention and health education in the early 1990s, health promotion was established, new approaches and new subjects were added. The renaming of "Bavarian Centre for Health Education" to "Bavarian Centre for Health" represents the change in the underlying concept of health. This paper traces the development until today.