INHPF

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are now the leading cause of preventable death and disability worldwide. They impose a heavy toll on human lives, widen health inequalities, and slow economic development.

Health promotion is one of the most cost-effective ways to prevent NCDs and reduce the health and financial burden they create. But it requires consistent, long-term investment—something traditional funding streams often fail to provide.

That’s where a Health Promotion Foundation (HPF) comes in.

A Health Promotion Foundation enables every country to invest in a healthier, more resilient future.

An Innovative Way to Invest in Health

HPFs provide dedicated, long-term funding for health promotion—moving countries beyond short-term fixes toward lasting impact.

By tackling the root causes of poor health—like tobacco use, unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, and alcohol harm—HPFs enable countries to reduce the burden of disease, improve quality of life, and lower healthcare costs.

Why It Works

Cost-effective: Health promotion significantly reduces the burden of NCDs. Every dollar invested in prevention saves many more in treatment.

Sustainable:HPFs ensure sustainable funding by drawing from diverse sources. Fiscal measures—such as tobacco taxes or health surcharges—can help generate long-term revenue streams to support ongoing health promotion.

Catalytic: HPFs enable governments and partners to drive innovation and shape healthier environments through bold, population-level action.

Better Health for the Long Term

Health promotion is more than education—it’s about building environments and systems that make healthy living the default.

With HPF support, countries have launched innovative programs and adopted transformative policies that save lives, reduce disparities, and strengthen communities.

What is HPF ?

A Health Promotion Foundation (HPF) is a dedicated mechanism that enables countries to invest in long-term, population-wide health promotion.

HPFs provide proactive, flexible grants to multi-sectoral partners—governments, civil society, researchers, and communities—to deliver programs that address the social determinant of health and reduce the burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs).

Key Characteristics of a Health Promotion Foundation
While structures vary by country, HPFs often share the following features:

Their core mandate is to fund health promotion activities.
They are established through specific legislation.
They operate as legal entities with transparent governance and stakeholder participation.
Their financing is institutionalized to support long-term, recurring investments.
They are independent of any political party or agenda.
They work across sectors and levels—supporting national policies and community action alike.
HPFs are designed for stability, accountability, and long-term impact.

Why Health Promotion Foundations (HPFs) Matter?

Cost-Effective and High-Impact

Establishing a dedicated health promotion foundation is one of the most cost-effective ways to improve population health. HPFs create a reliable, long-term funding stream that supports preventive efforts, especially in countries where health promotion is often underfunded.

By investing in upstream solutions, HPFs reduce the future burden on healthcare systems—saving lives and reducing long-term costs.

The Need for Sustainable and Independent Funding

Health promotion requires consistent, long-term investment. However, most national budgets prioritize treatment over prevention—and funding for health promotion is often fragmented, unpredictable, or easily cut.

HPFs offer a durable solution. By institutionalizing financing outside the regular budget cycle, they allow countries to plan ahead, scale impactful programs, and respond rapidly to emerging challenges.

While establishing an HPF is not a one-size-fits-all solution, it is a powerful tool to strengthen national health systems—especially when paired with strong governance and public sector coordination.

Where the Money Comes From

HPFs’ budgets come from various sources, including government allocations and fiscal measures that also help reduce health risks—such as tobacco and alcohol excise taxes or other dedicated health surcharges. A portion of these revenues is earmarked specifically for health promotion.

This approach aligns financial incentives with public health goals: it discourages harmful consumption while funding long-term, population-level solutions.

A reliable, long-term funding stream to promote and improve population health.

Sustainable Funding Mechanisms

Provides long-term, dedicated investment in prevention and health promotion
Supports tobacco control in line with WHO FCTC Article 26

Addressing Budget Gaps in LMICs

Reduces reliance on irregular donor funding and annual budget fluctuations
Prioritizes prevention in settings where health promotion is often underfunded

Reducing Health and Economic Costs

Helps governments manage the rising cost of NCDs and associated burdens
Lowers the need for costly curative and emergency care

Securing Long-Term Investments

Enables innovative, forward-looking strategies for population health
Allows countries to respond rapidly to emerging health threats

Strengthening Universal Health Coverage

Complements health insurance schemes by investing in prevention
Example: Thailand uses earmarked taxes to advance national health goals

Funding a Range of Health Initiatives

Stable revenue streams support programs in research, sports, and community well-being
Encourages local innovation across sectors and population groups

Making Polluters Pay

Holds harmful product manufacturers financially accountable for public health impacts
Uses excise taxes to fund cessation, education, and prevention programs

Meeting Global Health Commitments

Supports action on WHO FCTC and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Institutionalizes long-term investment in equity, prevention, and health promotion

What HPFs do

While priorities vary by country, Health Promotion Foundations (HPFs) typically invest in a core set of public health priorities.

Alongside program delivery, HPFs also fund policy innovation, capacity building, research, and community mobilization—working across systems to drive lasting, population-level change.

The following five areas are commonly prioritized by HPFs: