Health in All Policies A Shared Responsibility for a Healthier Community

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What Is Health in All Policies?
Health in All Policies is a government approach based on collaboration among various government entities to incorporate health considerations into policy development and decision-making. Human health does not depend solely on health services; it is also influenced by education, employment, housing, food, the environment, transportation, and other factors that shape our daily lives.
This approach aims to improve community health, prevent diseases, and enhance quality of life through joint efforts across all sectors.

Why Does Health Not Depend Solely on Healthcare?
Clinical healthcare contributes to approximately 20% of the factors that influence human health, while the larger share, approximately 80%, is influenced by other factors known as the determinants of health.
These determinants include:
  • Education
  • ​Employment
  • Income
  • Housing
  • Food
  • Environment
  • Transportation
  • ​Lifestyle
  • Social protection
  • Other factors that affect human health and well-being.
Therefore, improving community health is a shared responsibility across all sectors, not the health sector alone.

Why Health in All Policies?
This approach aims to build a healthier community through national policies that contribute to:
  • Increasing life expectancy.
  • Promoting physical activity.
  • Reducing obesity and chronic diseases.
  • Improving mental health.
  • Reducing accidents and injuries.
  • Enhancing quality of life.
  • Increasing productivity.
  • Improving urban livability.
  • Areas of Work.
Health in All Policies focuses on several areas that influence community health, including:
  • Education.
  • Sports.
  • Food.
  • Healthy lifestyle.
  • Urban environment.
  • Surrounding environment.
  • Occupational health and employment.
  • Living conditions.
  • Social protection.
  • Community and population policies.
  • Healthcare system.
Types of Policies
Public Health Policies
Policies that integrate health considerations into government laws, regulations, and decisions across various sectors, with the aim of improving community health.
Health Policies
Policies concerned with health services and clinical care, whose development and implementation fall within the responsibility of the health sector.
Initiative Vision
To position the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as a leading model in population health and health equity.
Mission
To support the establishment of an effective collaborative environment across sectors to develop and implement evidence-based policies that prioritize the determinants of health.
Values
  • ​Proactivity in developing effective health policies.
  • Transparency and clarity in procedures.
  • Delegation of roles and responsibilities and promotion of decentralization.
  • Collaboration and engagement across sectors at all levels.
  • Shared responsibility for change.
Policies Adopted in the Kingdom A National Approach for Sustainable Health Impact
Policies:
  1. National Policy for Child Protection in Educational Institutions.
  2. Policy Linking School Admission for Children to Completion of Basic Vaccinations.
  3. Policy on Pre-School Medical Fitness Screening and Exploratory Screening at All Educational Levels.
  4. Policy on Health and Nutritional Requirements Provided in Schools.
  5. Policy on Establishing Standards for Psychological Guidance and Counseling Services.
  6. Policy on Mental Health Training for Current and Future Teachers.
  7. Policy on Mental Health Education Through School Curricula.
  8. Policy on Protecting Children from Bullying in Schools.
Policies:
  1. Policy on Quality Certificate (Samak) Requirements for Fish Producers and Importers.
  2. Policy on Veterinary Antibiotics and Dose Limits for Each Antibiotic in Farmed Aquatic Products.
  3. Policy on Withdrawal Periods for All Antibiotics Used in Farmed Fish in Inland and Marine Farms.
  4. Policy on Required Tests for Detecting Residues in Farmed Aquatic Products.
Policies:
  1. Policy on Incorporating All Municipal Requirements to Promote Public Health into the Application of the Saudi Building Code.
  2. Policy on Health Education for Food Establishment Workers.
  3. Policy on Occupational Health and Safety in Municipal Projects.
Policies:
  1. Policy on Regulating and Protecting Workers in High-Risk Occupations (Critical Occupations).
  2. Policy on Medical Screening for Noncommunicable Diseases Among Workers.
  3. Policy on Occupational Health and Safety in Municipal Projects.
Living Conditions (Ministry of Commerce)
Policies:
  1. Policy on Enhancing Health Standards in Technical Regulations and Standards.
  2. Policy on Improving Product Safety in the Saudi Market.
  3. Policy on Guiding Consumption Toward Health-Promoting Goods and Services.
Policies:
  1. National Policy for Promoting a Healthy Dietary Pattern.
  2. Policy on Technical Requirements for Bread Production – Salt Content in Bread.
  3. Policy on Banning Hydrogenated Oils in Food Industries.
  4. Policy on Displaying Calorie Information on Foods in Restaurants and Cafés.
  5. Policy on the Advertising Guide Targeting Persons Under the Age of 18.
  6. Policy on Physical Activity Labeling on Food Products.
  7. Policy on Disclosure of Caffeine Content in All Beverages Served in Food Establishments.
  8. Policy on Labeling Food Items with High Salt Content in Establishments.
Healthcare System (Ministry of Health)
Policies:
  1. Policy on Immunizing All Children with Basic Vaccinations.
  2. Policy on Early Detection of Mental Disorders in the Kingdom.



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Last Update : 10 August 2026 03:48 AM
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