Joining forces to better prevent - Government action plan 2026-2031 of the National Health Prevention Strategy

🔍💡 Prenatal, childhood, housing, tobacco, mental health: Quebec's 2026-2031 plan equips field teams with 54 concrete measures, identified leaders, and outcome indicators. #HealthPrevention #SocialInequalities

💡🌱 From the grocery basket to green spaces, from the clinic to the neighbourhood: a common framework to act on food, physical activity, literacy, and climate, with assumed intersectoral governance. #PublicHealth #HealthLiteracy

 📌 📌This plan provides a structured operational framework for CISSS/CIUSSS, public health departments, municipalities, and community organisations, detailing 54 measures, their leaders, co-leaders, and deployment timelines.

It is directly mobilisable for regional planning, service agreements, intersectoral projects (housing, mobility, food, workplace, mental health, climate) and funding justification.

Local actors can refer to it to align their actions with national ambitions: health literacy, reduction of tobacco and alcohol, support for parents, combating homelessness, healthy living environments, citizen participation, and evidence-based data. 

 

Source: 📒 Quebec - Joining forces to better prevent - Government action plan 2026-2031 of the National Health Prevention Strategy 

✍️  Under-Secretary for Prevention and Public Health, Ministry of Health and Social Services (MSSS), Government of Quebec

📜🔗LINK to the source

Number of pages: 35

1. Analytical summary

Context and issues: a structured preventive shift

The document is part of the National Health Prevention Strategy 2025-2035, which aims for a 10% reduction in the growth of the burden of avoidable diseases and a 10% reduction in the gap in premature mortality related to socio-economic inequalities by 2035. It highlights the rise of chronic diseases, certain communicable infections, ageing, social isolation, and precariousness, as well as the pressure on the health and social services network. It is based on a wide intersectoral consultation from 2025 ('Consulting to Prevent Better') and adopts an integrated model at four levels: empowerment, preventive clinical services, prevention in communities/living environments, and healthy public policies. The target audiences are the entire Quebec population, with explicit attention to vulnerable individuals, First Nations and Inuit, and gender and socio-economic inequalities. The plan articulates four main orientations (reducing the burden of avoidable diseases, healthy generations, healthy living environments, prevention as a societal project) broken down into 19 ambitions and 54 measures prioritised according to their impact, feasibility, and social acceptability.

Operational contributions: 54 measures, governance, and indicators

The plan provides a multi-year roadmap for 2026-2031, detailing for each measure: ministerial lead, co-leads, level of intervention, start of deployment (years 1 to 4), and overall financial envelopes by block of measures. It outlines concrete levers on nutrition, physical activity, tobacco, alcohol, sexual health, mental health, digital technology, housing, homelessness, workplaces, access to nature, climate, health literacy, citizen participation, and the strategic use of data. A multi-level governance structure is described (Steering Committee, National Health Prevention Council, thematic alliances, prevention meetings, operational, mobilization, and learning components) to ensure coordination, monitoring, and adaptation. The plan specifies outcome indicators (incidence of certain chronic diseases, avoidable mortality, well-being, sense of belonging, isolation, child development, vaccination coverage) and provides for continuous monitoring, evaluation, and public dissemination of results. It establishes principles of equity, subsidiarity, and co-construction with communities, allowing for room for regional and local adaptations while clarifying national expectations.

2. Key points of the document 

1. An integrated action model at four levels (pp. 3-6)

   The plan adopts a model structured around empowerment and mutual aid, preventive clinical services, community prevention, and healthy public policies, articulated around the "triple aim" (health and well-being, equity, service experience, work experience, sustainability). This model guides the selection of measures based on their expected impact, timing, effect on equity, feasibility, and social acceptability (framework for measure analysis).

2. Quantified objectives and indicators to track progress (pp. 1-2, 8-10, 18-20, 22, 31-32, 40-41)

   The plan aims for a 10% reduction in the growth of the burden of preventable diseases and a 10% reduction in the gap in premature mortality related to socio-economic inequalities by 2035. It introduces specific indicators: combined incidence of asthma, hypertension and diabetes, mortality rate from preventable causes, proportion of 5-year-olds without vulnerability factors, vaccination coverage of students, sense of belonging, isolation, exposure to cooling amenities, level of well-being, intersectoral partnerships.

3. Multi-year planning for the deployment of ambitions (pp. 7-8, summary table)

   Figure 3 presents a four-phase timeline: year 1 (nutrition, physical activity, tobacco, preventive clinical interventions, parents, basic needs, built environments, work, civic participation, collaboration, research/innovation), year 2 (alcohol, children and young people, well-being, nature/outdoors, climate), year 3 (health literacy, precision prevention) and years 4-5 (living together, continuation of deployment). This timeline allows for the combination of quick wins (e.g. tobacco, vaccination) and structural changes (living environments, climate, data).

4. 54 structural measures with identified leads (pp. xiii-xviii, 8-21, 22-24, 31-32, 35-41)

   The detailed synoptic table lists 54 measures divided among four orientations and 19 ambitions, each with a level of intervention, a lead ministry (MSSS, MEQ, MESS, MAPAQ, MTMD, MEQ, SHQ, etc.), sometimes co-leads (INSPQ, Santé Québec, MELCCFP…) and a start of deployment. The investments are specified by block of measures (for example, $14.3 million for physical activity, $32 million for preventive clinical interventions, $17.3 million for living environments and climate, $10 million for well-being).

5. Dedicated governance and a learning component (p. 26‑33)

   The plan describes a Steering Office for the Strategy, an operational component (internal and intersectoral coordination), a mobilisation component (thematic alliances, prevention meetings, alignments with other bodies) and a learning component (monitoring, evaluation, dissemination). It provides for a structured evaluation, monitoring of indicators, mechanisms for adjusting measures and a commitment to make results public, reinforcing transparency and accountability.

3. Action tracks for local actors 

1. Align local health and service plans with the 19 ambitions and 4 levels of intervention (p. 3‑7, 8‑10)

   Public health departments, CISSS/CIUSSS and municipalities can map their existing actions onto the four-level model and the 19 ambitions, then identify gaps (e.g. few actions on health literacy or citizen participation). This exercise can serve as a basis for regional action plans and consultation tables, relying on the logic of subsidiarity and the margins for local adaptation mentioned in the plan.

2. Use thematic measures as the basis for targeted intersectoral projects (p. xiii‑xviii, 9‑21)

   Field actors can take ownership of specific measures to develop projects: improving the food environment (1.1), promoting physical activity (1.2), supporting breastfeeding and positive parenting practices (2.1), coordinated interventions on housing and homelessness (2.4), active mobility initiatives (3.2), occupational health (3.4), local climate adaptation (3.5). The ambition description pages specify the issues, levers, and partners to mobilise, providing direct justifications for funding requests or calls for projects.

3. Structuring citizen participation and health literacy initiatives (p. 18, 22‑24)

   Community organisations, neighbourhood tables, and establishments can develop structured citizen participation mechanisms based on ambition 4.2, which calls for involving citizens in the design of prevention actions. Measures 4.1.1 and 4.1.2 encourage strengthening health literacy among older adults and caregivers, and adapting professional communications, providing a framework to co-produce simple tools, test their understanding, and adjust them.

4. Integrating climate and digital aspects into local prevention plans (p. 18‑21, 16‑17, 40‑41)

   Local actors can align their plans with climate measures (3.5.1 to 3.5.3) by participating in regional adaptation plans, identifying vulnerable populations, and co-constructing responses (cooling spaces, heat alerts, zoonosis prevention, antimicrobial resistance). The digital measures (2.3.1) invite educational actions around digital usage, misinformation prevention, and promoting balanced use, particularly among young people.

5. Establish local mechanisms for participatory monitoring and evaluation (p. 30‑33)

   Field teams can adopt the logic of the learning component to define local indicators consistent with those of the plan (e.g. local vaccination coverage, sense of belonging, isolation, access to green spaces, use of preventive services). They can involve users, communities, and partners in the co-interpretation of data and the adjustment of actions, reinforcing the culture of prevention and transparency desired by the Strategy.

4. Additional references 

🔍➕ For more information, see the articles referenced by "Health Practices" on the topic of public policies ➡️🔗https://pratiquesensante.odoo.com/3-2-politiques-nationales

5. Frequently asked questions 

1. What specific issues does this action plan address? (p. 1‑2, 19, 27, 40)

   The plan addresses the rise in chronic diseases and certain infections, ageing, social health inequalities, pressure on the healthcare system, and the effects of climate change. It aims to act upstream by combining preventive clinical interventions, actions in living environments, healthy public policies, and strengthening the capacity to act.

2. What types of actors are involved in the implementation? (p. 2, 7, 18, 22, summary table)

   The plan mobilises ministries, public agencies, CISSS/CIUSSS, Santé Québec, municipalities, community organisations, educational and research environments, the private sector, Indigenous communities, and citizens. Each measure designates a lead and sometimes co-leads, but success is conditioned by partnerships and local adaptations.

3. How can field actors adapt the measures to their context? (p. 7‑8, 26‑30)

   The plan advocates a subsidiarity approach and a "dynamic and adaptive" character, inviting regions to tailor measures according to their needs while respecting the national framework and objectives. The governance bodies (Steering Committee, thematic alliances, prevention meetings) are designed to support these adaptations and facilitate alignments.

4. What are the short-term priorities (years 1-2) for the field? (p. 7-8, xiii-xviii, 9-16)

   The first years target nutrition, physical activity, tobacco, preventive clinical interventions, support for parents, basic needs (housing, homelessness), built environments, workplaces, citizen participation, and intersectoral collaboration. Year 2 adds alcohol, children and youth, well-being, nature/outdoors, and climate adaptation, allowing for a gradual expansion of the scope of action.

5. How does the plan take into account social health inequalities? (p. 2-4, 6, 14-17, 18-21)

   Reducing inequalities is an explicit target, with a goal of a 10% reduction in the gap of premature mortality related to socio-economic inequalities. The plan provides particular attention to people in vulnerable situations, the integration of social determinants into the analysis, dedicated measures (housing, homelessness, support for isolated families), and the use of gender-based analysis.

6. What measures concern health literacy and the fight against misinformation? (p. 22-24, 40-41)

   Ambition 4.1 aims to strengthen health literacy among older adults and caregivers (4.1.1) and to develop the capacities of professionals and organisations to adapt their communications (4.1.2). Ambition 4.5 includes a measure to develop innovative ways to combat health misinformation and disinformation, supported by the Quebec Research Funds.

7. How will the monitoring and evaluation of the plan be organised? (pp. 26-33)

   The learning component provides for a system to monitor measures, the use of indicators, periodic assessments, an evaluation, and the public dissemination of results, in order to allow for the adjustment of actions. The National Council for Health Prevention and various governance bodies will contribute to steering, intersectoral collaboration, and the capitalisation of learning.

6. Rewriting in Easy-to-Read Language (FALC) key points)

Title

Action Plan 2026-2031 for Better Prevention in Quebec.

Context and Objectives – Easy-to-Read Language (FALC)

• The Government of Quebec wants to act before people become ill.

• The plan aims to reduce certain preventable diseases.

• It also wants to reduce health disparities between rich and poor people.

• The plan is aimed at the entire population of Quebec.

• It pays special attention to people in difficulty and Indigenous peoples.

• It covers the period from 2026 to 2031, with a vision extending to 2035.

How the plan acts – Easy-to-Read Language (FALC)

• The plan acts on four levels.

• First, it focuses on individuals and their loved ones, to strengthen their ability to take action.

• Next, on health services, to better prevent diseases.

• Then on living environments, such as the neighbourhood, school, and work.

• Finally, on laws and policies, to create supportive environments.

Five main ideas – FALC

1. Quantified objectives

• The plan aims to reduce avoidable diseases.

• It aims to reduce deaths before the age of 75 related to inequalities.

1. Multi-year plan

• Some actions start in the first year.

• Other actions will come later, up to 2031.

1. 54 concrete measures

• The plan contains 54 detailed measures.

• Each measure has a responsible person and sometimes partners.

1. Governance and monitoring

• A steering committee monitors the actions.

• Indicators measure progress over time.

1. Equity and participation

• The plan takes into account the most vulnerable people.

• It encourages the participation of citizens.

7. Cross-cutting analysis – Values of Health Practices

• Literacy: The document proposes measures dedicated to health literacy (4.1.1, 4.1.2) and to simplifying communications for different audiences, particularly the elderly and caregivers.

• Empowerment: The level of "empowerment and mutual aid" and several measures (positive parenting, social participation, social prescribing) strengthen the ability of beneficiaries to act on their health.

• Participation: Ambition 4.2 provides for structured and inclusive citizen participation in prevention actions, with an explicit role for citizens in the design of interventions.

• Community health: Orientations 2 and 3 emphasise living environments, social cohesion, social ties, and action within communities, clearly integrating a community health approach.

• Ethics: The document acknowledges social health inequalities, the vulnerability of certain groups, and the need for gender-differentiated analyses, without detailing formalised ethical frameworks.

• Human rights: It affirms a goal of equity, access, and respect for cultural realities, particularly for First Nations and Inuit, in connection with cultural security within the network.

• Intersectorality: The plan relies on multiple stakeholders (health, family, education, work, transport, environment, housing, culture, agriculture) and on multi-level intersectoral governance.

• Partnership: It structures partnerships through the Steering Office, the National Council, thematic alliances, and prevention meetings, with a logic of co-construction.

• Combating discrimination: The document explicitly mentions people in vulnerable situations, potential discrimination factors (language, origin, gender, disability), and the necessity of not reproducing inequalities.

8. Assessment of the reliability of the resource

• Scientific relevance

  The plan is based on international literature and the WHO's 'best buys' for the prevention of chronic diseases, even though the detailed references are not all specified in the excerpts, and on a report of public consultations. It is produced by the MSSS, validated by the Council of Ministers, and aligned with other strategic frameworks (Strategy 2025-2035, Strategic Plan 2023-2027), which gives it institutional robustness. The indicators and targets are consistent with the available surveillance data (chronic diseases, mortality, child development, well-being).

• Operational relevance

  The document is highly operational: 54 measures, lead actors, co-leads, levels of intervention, timeline, financial envelopes, governance, indicators. However, it leaves to other tools (guides, regional plans, reference frameworks) the task of detailing the practical modalities for field teams, which requires a process of appropriation and local translation. For practitioners, it serves as an essential reference framework to justify, guide, and coordinate prevention actions in Quebec.