Intersectoral collaboration:
A recognized relationship between part or parts of different sectors of society which has been formed to take action on an issue to achieve health outcomes or intermediate health outcomes in a way which is more effective, efficient or sustainable than might be achieved by the health sector acting alone.
Reference: modified from Intersectoral Action for Health: A Cornerstone for Health for All in the 21st Century. WHO, Geneva, 1997
Intersectoral action for health is seen as central to the achievement of greater equity in health, especially where progress depends upon decisions and actions in other sectors, such as agriculture, education, and finance. A major goal in intersectoral action is to achieve greater awareness of the health consequences of policy decisions and organizational practice in different sectors, and through this, movement in the direction of healthy public policy and practice. Not all intersectoral action for health need involve the health sector. For example, in some countries the police and transport sectors might combine to take action to reduce road transport injury. Such action, although explicitly intended to reduce injury, will not always involve the health sector. Increasingly intersectoral collaboration is understood as cooperation between different sectors of society such as the public sector, civil society and the private sector.
