What is a health impact assessment?

• A. A structured process to estimate potential health effects of a policy, program, or project.
• B. A method to measure only economic impact.
• C. A tool to forecast weather impacts on health.
• D. A plan to implement health interventions without assessment.

Answer: (A)

A health impact assessment is a structured process to estimate potential health effects of a policy, program, or project. It looks at how a proposed decision in areas like transportation, housing, or land use could influence health outcomes and health equity, before the action is carried out. By bringing together data, evidence, stakeholders, and public input, it identifies potential positive and negative health effects and suggests ways to enhance benefits and reduce harms. The process often includes screening, scoping, assessment, recommendations, reporting, and monitoring to inform decision makers and guide better health outcomes.

This isn’t about measuring only economic impact, nor is it about forecasting weather impacts. It also isn’t a plan to implement interventions without evaluation—the whole point is to anticipate health effects and plan mitigations before actions are taken.