How is the Welsh Government promoting preventative health measures?
Working with public sector partners, such as Local Health Boards, Public Health Wales and Local Authorities, the Welsh Government aims to embed a preventative approach across health and social care, as outlined in ‘A Healthier Wales’.
We deliver national programmes, such as our Healthy Weight, Healthy Wales and Tobacco Control strategies that support local delivery of services to empower people to manage their own physical and mental health and wellbeing. This includes local stop smoking and weight management services through Health Boards, and programmes such as the National Exercise Referral Scheme, which is run in partnership with Local Authorities and leisure trusts.
Alongside activity to help people make more informed choices about their health, we have a range of preventative healthcare measures, such as our vaccination and screening programmes.
I was recently pleased to confirm the renewal of our Memorandum of Understanding with the World Health Organisation (Europe). One of the collaboration areas within the MoU aims to strengthen the role of Wales in the WHO European Region and globally, developing and sharing solutions and expertise, collaborating with WHO networks, forums, partners, Member States, territories and areas. This gives us opportunities to engage with government representatives from outside the UK across a range of policy areas, including preventative healthcare.