Table 3 Overview of stages used within the HIA and HiAP approaches

1. Engage

• Develop relationship and discuss process, ensuring flexibility to cater to partners’ needs, with a focus on co-benefits.

• Identify/clarify contextual issues.

• Negotiate and agree on policy focus, taking political priorities into account.

1. Screening

• Identify resources.

• Identify elements of the proposal that could have an effect on health.

• Plan work and determine processes.

• Establish evaluation criteria.

• Decide whether to pursue the process.

2. Scoping

• Decide on what, who, with, how and when the analysis will be performed.

• Ensure focus is directed towards groups most at risk of being disadvantaged.

3. Identification/Analysis

2. Gather evidence

• Review of the scientific literature.

• Undertake evidence gathering phase, using both qualitative and quantitative methods.

• Undertake consultation with experts and target population.

• Joint exploration and discussion.

• Make investigation and analysis.

• Reconcile perspectives.

• Collaboratively shape conclusions and recommendations.

4. Recommendations and reporting

3. Generate

• Develop recommendations to reduce potential negative impacts and maximise positive effects on health, with a focus on improving health and equity as the drivers for these recommendations.

• Produce report and final recommendations, which are tailored to suit the relevant political and fiscal environments.

• Report on the process, findings and recommendations.

• Test ‘product’.

4. Navigate

• Navigate final report and recommendations through decision making processes and Government hierarchy, while emphasising co-benefits.

• Provide briefings and presentations and organise necessary meetings.

• Department of Health and partner agency Chief Executive to sign off.

• Report to Cabinet task group Senior Officers Group.

5. Evaluation

5. Evaluate

• Review HIA process for improvement.

• Employ an external agency to evaluate project process, impact and outcomes and to identify process improvements.

• Evaluate actual policy or project impact if possible after 12 months where possible. In practice this is often difficult due to funding constraints.

• This is intended after all HLA projects, however, funding constraints mean that some projects may not be evaluated.