The goal of the fourth Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Programme (2010-2014)  is to innovate, enhance knowledge and foster the practical application of the knowledge already available on disease prevention and health promotion, and on effective methods.

The motto of the fourth Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Programme is ‘foster and innovate’. The goal of the programme is to innovate and foster the practical application of the knowledge already available on disease prevention and health promotion, and on effective methods. This will happen in close collaboration with the parties responsible for implementation. More than the previous programmes, this fourth programme is about building sustainable local networks that can take an integrated approach to health policy and health promotion.

The programme targets a very wide and diverse area, encompassing disease prevention, health protection (including screening, vaccination and medication) and health promotion (through lifestyle changes, for example). Though there has been a lot of progress in these areas over the past few years, much still remains to be done. Bringing researchers, practitioners and policymakers together helps create a comprehensive framework that is able to accommodate all aspects of disease prevention and health promotion.