The Ottawa Charter 30 years on: still an important standard for health promotion

Abstract

The World Health Organization’s Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion has been considered a seminal document and template for health promotion since its inception and is still seen as a “gold standard” for health promoters worldwide who wish to improve health and reduce inequalities. Although its principles have been widely applauded, opportunities to transfer these principles into the radical changes and practical solutions needed globally to improve health have been missed. This paper examines how the Charter has influenced United Kingdom health care policies by examining two of the Charter’s key strategies, creating healthy environments and reorientating health services. In the UK, currently, there remains an over emphasis on personal responsibility and behaviour change, rather than tackling fundamental societal-wide issues. Nevertheless, it is argued that the Ottawa Charter retains its relevance to the present day and that all policy makers and professionals working to promote positive health should revisit and take heed of its principles.