Health Promotion, Prevention and Rehabilitation Tile
While health promotion focuses on factors that help people stay healthy, prevention concentrates on preventing disease before it occurs (primary prevention), the early detection and treatment of disease (secondary prevention), and preventing the deterioration of an existing disease or injury (tertiary prevention/rehabilitation). In line with the Health in All Policies principle, health considerations and aspects of prevention should be included in all areas of public action. This requires cross-sector collaboration among a wide range of government departments and societal stakeholders.
Berlin-Brandenburg brings together healthcare providers, public institutions, businesses, educational organizations and community stakeholders to create healthier living environments and improve public health outcomes.
A broad range of research activities focused on prevention, health behavior and public health is conducted in the region.
HEALTH TARGETS AND INITIATIVES
Both Berlin and Brandenburg have established strategic health priorities that guide policy development and collaborative action.
In Berlin, the Berlin State Health Conference serves as the decision-making body for health targets. The city-wide Berlin Health Targets are structured around different stages of life and transitions between life stages: Growing Up Healthy (since 2007), Healthy Participation in Society (since 2021), Healthy Working (since 2014) and Healthy Aging (since 2011).
Brandenburg’s health targets focus on the health of children and adolescents, the prevention of injuries resulting from accidents and violence, and healthy aging. In this context, the Growing Up Healthy in Brandenburg Alliance and the alliance Healthy Aging in the State of Brandenburg play important roles.
The Statutory Health Insurance Alliance for Health (GKV Alliance for Health) supports health promotion and prevention in everyday living environments as a joint initiative of Germany’s statutory health insurance funds. Particular emphasis is placed on municipalities, schools, daycare centers, universities and care facilities.
REHABILITATION
Rehabilitation measures are an important component of the healthcare continuum. Their goal is to restore functional capacity after illness, preserve employability, and prevent disability and long-term care dependency.
Berlin-Brandenburg offers a modern rehabilitation ecosystem with a wide range of specialized facilities and services. The Rehabilitation Atlas for Berlin and Brandenburg provides comprehensive information on medical rehabilitation and an overview of rehabilitation facilities throughout the region.
The Rehabilitation Research Department at the Institute of Medical Sociology and Rehabilitation Science at Charité works on developing and implementing support services for patients and healthcare providers, including the use of new media, digital technologies and artificial intelligence. The Professorship for Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Potsdam develops innovative concepts for the prevention and rehabilitation of chronic degenerative diseases. Both and further academic institutions in the region are members of the Rehabilitation Research Network Berlin, Brandenburg and Central Germany.
