The Swedish national public health policy report 2010.

Background: In 2003, the Swedish Parliament adopted a cross-sectorial national public health policy based on the social determinants of health, with an overarching aim--to create societal conditions that will ensure good health, on equal terms, for the entire population--and eleven objective domains. At that time the policy was globally unique, and serves as guidance for public health practice at the national, regional and local levels. The development of the public health policy and the determinants of health are presented regularly in various reports by the Swedish National Institute of Public Health.

Review article: health impact assessment developments in Sweden.

Aims: The contextual prerequisites in a country are crucial to the implementation and effectiveness of health impact assessment (HIA). This article aims to show how the Swedish government has been working to create supportive contextual prerequisites for HIA. These prerequisites are described based on the following factors: stewardship, including public health policy, party politics and legal preconditions; organization, including resources and funding; and delivery, which is dependent on the public health culture.