Sustainable health pact (PaSSus): a multisectoral commitment under Portugal’s health plan 2030

Issue/problem

Materialized in its National Health Plan 2030 (NHP), Portugal adopted a guiding vision for sustainable health in accordance with the challenges identified by the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Despite this strategic framework, there was no dedicated multilevel tool to operationalize Portugal’s NHP, that ensured multisectoral commitment, inclusive of all levels of society.

Description of the problem

Leveraging entities’ motivation for participation to ensure action, the Sustainable Health Pact (PaSSus 2030) was proposed as the main strategic tool for implementing the NHP. The Pact is a call to action and demands mobilizing multi‑ and intersectoral partners in a process that transforms national strategy into concrete initiatives at both national and local levels. Launched in 2023, PaSSus 2030 aims to facilitate full alignment between the Strategic Objectives of the NHP and operational stakeholders.

Results

The creation of PaSSus 2030 involved 117 entities and 5 individualities representing a wide range of sectors and areas of expertise, such as health, social, academic, and defense. Today, PaSSus 2030 is an ongoing tool that receives various applications for sustainable health projects. It offers consultive support and creates multisectoral positive synergies to enhance and scale their implementation, engaging with local health planning and municipalities.

Lessons

A Sustainable Health Pact proves to be a key instrument for translating a strategic national health plan, such as the NHP, into concrete actions. As a dynamic and integrative tool, PaSSus 2030 is open to all of society, and reinforces a whole of government and a whole of society approach.

Thanks to its model, the Pact can be adapted and implemented anywhere, at any level of governance. Portugal’s experience shows that involving multisectoral stakeholders at all stages of the process enhances results.

Key messages

• PaSSus 2030 is a strategic tool, that mobilizes all levels of society to implement Portugal’s National Health Plan into concrete national and local initiatives.

• Portugal’s experience shows that a governance model based on broad stakeholder engagement strengthens implementation and addresses the major public health challenges identified in the NHP.