Institute Profile

The Swedish National Institute of Public Health (SNIPH) is a state agency under the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs. The institute works to promote health and prevent ill health and injury, especially for population groups most vulnerable to health risks.  The three main functions of the institute are to:

•   Monitor and coordinate implementation of the national public health policy
• Be a national center of knowledge for the development and dissemination of methods and strategies in the field of public health, based on scientific evidence
• Exercise supervision in the areas of alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs

The institute has a staff of 160 and six departments: Drug Prevention; Child and Adolescent Health and Mental Health; Communications; Community Planning and Health; Health Behaviours; Policy Analysis and Monitoring

In 2008, the institute coordinated and monitored the Swedish national public health policy, which was adopted in 2003 and endorsed by members of all political parties. It also contributed to the WHO’s commission on social determinants of health.  Currently SNIPH's priorities are to support and coordinate public health practice and policy in these areas:

• Children and young people (national strategy on parenting skills for all parents with children up to 18 years old)
• Elderly (support creation of social meeting places to enhance physical activity, enhance empowerment thru health-promoting knowledge, manage medications, and increase social interactions)
• Alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs (limit accessibility, exercise supervision, and raise awareness)
• Disseminate knowledge on effective methods for enhancing physical activity