New international consensus on health impact assessment.

摘要

Gary Krieger and colleagues (June 19, p 2129) present a polarising narrative, pitting themselves, as private sector consultants, against health impact assessment (HIA) as conceptualised in the Gothenburg Consensus. Krieger and colleagues represent one perspective among HIA practitioners, who all share a commitment to the protection and enhancement of health and wellbeing. The private sector's use of HIA has not evolved independently of the public sector. Krieger and colleagues omit to note that the International Finance Corporation is a government-owned entity. Demand by governments for the accountability of financial institutions has been a driver for the private sector's use of impact assessment, including HIA. The interplay between public and private sectors has led to guidance for, and commissioning of, HIAs. Krieger and colleagues also do not acknowledge their role in writing the International Finance Corporation guidance for HIA.