ABSTRACT
This chapter addresses some of the problems with health investment strategies and reviews how the European Health Promoting Hospital network is working to develop practical solutions to the problem of releasing resources to achieve health gain. Since 1991 an international network of 20 pilot health promoting hospitals has functioned as part of the multi-city action plan of the health cities project. It is important to gain hospital management agreement to the Ottowa Charter and to the principles of the Budapest Declaration. The development of a health promoting hospital cannot just be added on as another project to a few departments–it should be a core process throughout the organization. The process of building healthy alliances and networks should evolve along with the experience and skills of all staff participating, and close links should be developed with schools, workplaces, primary health care teams, community groups and other local institutions who can promote health.
