1.O. Round table: Advancing Policy Analysis: Integrating Foresight, Health Impact Assessment, and health economics

Abstract Health policy analysis is fundamental to shaping healthcare systems that are both effective and equitable. It serves as a cornerstone for informed decision-making, helping governments, organizations, and stakeholders develop strategies that address population health needs while ensuring fairness and efficiency. However, to significantly enhance its impact, it is essential to adopt a multidimensional and integrated approach to policy analysis. By combining strategic foresight, health impact assessment (HIA), and economic evaluation, policymakers can more effectively navigate the complex and ever-evolving landscape of healthcare, thereby enabling more proactive, evidence-based, and financially sustainable decisions. Strategic foresight, as a critical component, allows policymakers to anticipate the future. By analyzing trends such as emerging health threats, technological advancements, shifts in disease patterns, and demographic changes, this forward-looking approach enhances preparedness and supports proactive decision-making. Strategic foresight ensures that policymakers are better equipped to anticipate challenges. Health impact assessment (HIA) represents another vital tool in health policy analysis. It provides a structured and systematic framework for evaluating the potential effects of proposed policies, programs, or regulatory actions on the health outcomes of individuals and communities. What sets HIA apart is its emphasis on equity and evidence-based planning. Economic evaluation, as a third tool, provides critical insights into the financial dimensions of policy options, analyzing their cost-effectiveness, affordability, and sustainability. By identifying interventions that maximize health outcomes relative to available resources, it ensures optimal allocation of funds and long-term economic sustainability. These three tools are often employed in public health policy analysis. However, which tool to use for which policy research question is not given many considerations, in practice. Also, they are often used independent from each other, while they could be complementary to each other. By integrating strategic foresight, HIA, and health economics health policy analysis can address complex challenges more effectively. This comprehensive approach fosters resilience, equity, and sustainability in healthcare systems, equipping policymakers to design strategies that improve health outcomes and ensure both social and economic value. In this session, a brief overview of the three tools is given, including their strengths and weaknesses. Next, in a round table with the Presidents of the three different EUPHA sections, differences, overlaps and similarities will be identified. The session will end with finding common ground for setting next steps to further integrate these three tools to be better equipped to address complex policy issues. Key messages • Public health policy making can be better supported by integrating different policy analysis methods. • As a public health community we need to collaborate more to deal with the complex challenges of the future. Speakers/Panellists Henk Hilderink RIVM, Bilthoven, Netherlands Piedad Martin-Olmedo Escuela Andaluza de Salud Pública, Granada, Spain João Vasco Santos University of Porto / CINTESIS / ARS Norte, Porto, Portugal