Innovative investment models to scale and sustain social prescribing initiatives

Abstract Background Health promotion and disease prevention are essential investments to improve population health and reduce inequities. Traditional healthcare often fails to address social determinants of health, particularly among vulnerable populations like migrants. Approaches like social prescribing (SP) create pathways to integrated, community-based care but require sustainable financing models for scalability and lasting impact. The Invest4Health project aims to advance innovative financing strategies that prioritise prevention. Methods The Invest4Health develops and tests Smart Capacitating Investment (SCI) models across diverse ecosystems. These models reframe health promotion as a value-generating investment, supporting risk-sharing, resource pooling and citizen engagement in governance. In 2023, regions from Germany, Spain, Sweden and UK began developing SCI models for health promotion. In 2025, the National School of Public Health at NOVA University Lisbon (NOVA NSPH) was selected to receive Invest4Health support to develop an SCI model for the Portuguese SP Network. Results Preliminary results from the collaboration with NOVA NSPH will include outcomes from capacity-building, expert-led training and simulation exercises held in May-October 2025. The SCI model for the Portuguese SP Network will draw on NOVA's evidence base on SP from its multidisciplinary network. Focus will be on the relevance of SCI models to support SP initiatives fostering migrants’ integration. Conclusions There is a need for sustainable, innovative financing to transition health systems to prevention and integrated care. SCI models show potential for demonstrating prevention's value. However, effective implementation requires leadership, cross-sectoral collaboration, capacity-building and policy alignment. Embedding SP into national strategies will require both technical innovation and political commitment to prioritise prevention as a long-term investment.