Understanding late logic of health policy making: The transition to governance for health

Objective (s): Looking at the conceptual evolution of health, trends in governance and how it is used by governments seeking improvement in health outcomes, shows the emergence of a meaning consensus that the population health, could not be seen any more in the biomedical narrow viewpoint and as a performance of one ministry. This is a qualitative paper, using documentary descriptive and analytical research methods to express, an epistemological narrative of the health policy late logic. Policymaking for health, should be based on an understanding of what has a major impact on the population health; what have being described as ‘health hazard’, ‘health protector’ and ‘health promoter’. Such an understanding has led to a new paradigm appearance entitled ‘Governance for Health’. Governance for health is not necessarily an intervention but a ‘value system’ and a kind of ‘sociocultural perception’ to ‘sustainable development’ that may lead to equal opportunities for better health and inequity reduction. In addition, participatory focus on intersectoral collaboration and multi-sectoral coordination for health, reinforces the systemic features of public policy and could lead to more effective programs in all policy areas. Realizing such an ideal integrated governance for health requires ‘political will and commitment’.