Taking the morbidity and mortality situation of the Hungarian population into consideration, the Government decided to aim at decreasing the significant difference between the life expectancy at birth between the EU average and Hungary. To fulfil this aim, a strategic program was elaborated under the name "Johan Béla National Programme for the Decade of Health". This multidisciplinary and intersectoral program was passed by the Parliament in 2003 and the results are monitored by the Parliament. The basic methodology of the Public Health Program is prevention, possibly of primary character, but also including secondary and tertiary type. This includes promotion of healthy lifestyles and environment, prevention and decrease of the burden of most frequent chronic diseases (cardiovascular diseases, tumours, mental and locomotor diseases), involvement of healthy setting programs, development of the human resources in Public Health, monitoring and communication of the Public Health Program. The prevention of diseases, like AIDS, is a very important task.
 
We could relate already about some results of the Program in 2003 to the Parliament. The organizational structure was elaborated, an Intersectoral Public Health Committee was established with the leadership of the Minister of Health, Social and Family Affairs. This Committee decides about the steps to be taken, about the budget and participates in the elaboration of the yearly report to the Parliament.  A Program Bureau was established to coordinate the operational tasks with the leadership of the titular Secretary of State, and the implementation is fulfilled by the National Institute for Health Promotion and the National Public Health Office. The monitoring of the results is done by the National Center for Epidemiology.

Further results of the Public Health Program in 2003 are: the introduction of the public health regulations of the EU; a successful continuation of the organized breast-screening program; a tart of a cervix-screening program, elaboration of an AIDS Strategy and of the National Food Safety Program; and last but not least launching the settlement, workplace and school health promotion programs.
An efficient cooperation developed on and between local and central levels throughout the Public Health Program, with the joint aim of a better health of the population. This made it possible to elaborate a complex action plan for the year 2004. 
The main element is healthy lifestyles and environment. Hungary signed the FTCT among the first 40 countries and appropriate legislation was passed by the Parliament. However, health education of the population is inevitable to reach the goal. There are two approaches already in action in 2004: a "Smoking is not "in" program for primary prevention, to keep back young people from starting, and a "Quit and Win" for those, who are already smokers, but would like to quit.
It is not enough either to elaborate and officially declare the National Food Safety Program, thus unhealthy food has to be eliminated from the canteens of workplaces, schools and other public institutions, and educational programs have to be distributed in the media.
Alcohol and drug prevention are in the limelight of lifestyle problems. Interdisciplinary programs are planned on local level, with involvement of psychologists, psychiatrists, health promotion and mental hygiene specialists, social workers, clergymen and peer educators. This part of the Public Health Program is significantly intersectoral, as the Ministry for Youth and Sports, for Internal Affairs, of Justice and of National Defence are working together on planning and on operational level with the Ministry of Health, Social and Family Affairs.
Environment and health programs are in the limelight in 2004, as Hungary is the host country of the Fourth European Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health. Elaboration of the NEHAP2 is a part of the professional preparations. The slogan of the Conference is: "for the health of our children", the Hungarian Government calls together an international Youth Parliament on environment and health on the first day of the Ministerial Conference.
Beneath the topics of the Conference, there are special issues in the 2004 plans like campaigns against asbestos in the buildings, and against ragweed.
In the frame of prevention of diseases and diminishing their burden those diseases and health states gained priority, which are most frequent in Hungary.
An organized screening and care program for hypertension and diabetes is introduced in primary health care settings. Children of parents suffering of these diseases are also in the center of interest. The latter action is planned to be organized in the frame of a family club initiative.
The primary and secondary prevention of locomotor diseases involves actions for healthy sports and movement, but also a program for those bone-fracture patients who are suffering in osteoporosis.
HIV/AIDS prevention includes the support of anonym AIDS advisory NGO-s, quick tests, laboratory background, and last but not least sexual educational programs.
Screenings for tumours are organized continuously in Hungary, this has to be further developed. Beneath the breast and cervix screenings, colorectal screenings will be implemented in the frame of the Public Health Program.
Health promotion of the elderly involves somatic and mental issues. A program for "elderly-friendly flats" is in elaboration. Different forms of support of an active aging, which are not yet widely known, have to be made public, such as University for Elderly, sports, informatics, voluntary work, etc.
The setting programs are manifold. In 2004 a model program of healthy setting is introduced in Veresegyhaza. The health promoting nurseries, schools, workplace projects of WHO are cooperating with the Public Health Program. A very complex project was started in cooperation with the Prime Minister?s Office, local governments and appropriate NGOs to promote the health status and living conditions of the roma population.
The 2004 action plan also touches upon the tasks in developing the human resources, the monitoring and communication of the Program.
There are already some signs of positive results of the Public Health Program, for example in the figures on life expectancy at birth, in legislations on chemical safety, or in the cognition of the population about healthy nutrition. We sincerely hope that the EU accession will accelerate the implementation of the "Decade of Health, Johan Bela Public Health Program", and thus contribute to the health promotion of the Hungarian population.      

The full text of the National Public Health Programme can be reached below.