INTRODUCTION

Climate change is a structural determinant of health and a threat to global public health. Thus, the World Health Assembly 2008 mandated to draw up action plans to minimize public health impacts of climate change. The aim of the study was to systematize the development process of a policy in this area. The National Action Plan on Health and Climate Change is part of this policy.

METHODS

To design the climate change and health policy, a Workgroup made up by different areas with competence in this sphere was created within Argentine Ministry of Health. This workgroup was responsible for conducting a situational analysis to prioritize topics to be included in an action plan. Such plan was submitted for consideration to other areas of the National State by means of the interministerial Health Workgroup from the National Cabinet of Climate Change and the civil society.

RESULTS

The public health policy on climate change has three instruments: the National Program, the Workgroup and the Action Plan. The plan is organized in 7 axes of intervention and 21 measures.

DISCUSSION

The Ministry of Health has been working on climate change and health since 2008, but it was the creation of the Workgroup which finally made it a cross-cutting issue.

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