Policy integration: placing the spatial dimension in the health agenda. Evidence from Portugal. Issue 2 (3rd May 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Santinha, Gonçalo
• Is Part Of: Space & polity. Volume 20:Issue 2(2016)
• Page Start: 158
• Page End: 176
• Publication Date: 2016-05-03
• Subjects: policy integration -- health -- health in all policies -- spatial planning -- territorial cohesion; Political geography -- Periodicals; Regionalism -- Periodicals; Decentralization in government -- Periodicals; Nationalism -- Periodicals; 320.1205
• DOI: 10.1080/13562576.2015.1132543
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1356-2576

Abstract

Abstract : The significance of spatial policies for health and well-being is well recorded. While there has been an increasing body of literature illustrating the importance of including a territorial perspective in health decision-making processes, evidence shows that policy integration between spatial and health policies is still scarce. This paper aims to develop a deeper understanding of how this integration can be considered in conceptual terms and how it is actually embraced in practice by health decision-makers. Drawing upon the concept of territorial cohesion, the paper presents and discusses the results of a research held in Portugal aiming to understand this topic.