Better Health, Improving Health Care is a strategic briefing document prepared by the Department for the incoming Minister for Health, in advance of the publication of the Programme for Government. It sets out some strategic considerations to inform the task of developing a clear and coherent agenda for action to improve the health service.

P.15. Suggested action areas – population health
(i) Purposeful implementation of the Healthy Ireland agenda combined with further work on reducing health inequalities, reducing tobacco consumption and substance misuse, promoting physical activity and sexual health, and preventing suicide.
(ii) Develop a new national programme to comprehensively deal with anti-microbial resistance as a major threat to current and future health and well-being.
(iii) Implement the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015 including minimum unit pricing to tackle cheap, high alcohol content products and strengthen advertising and sponsorship restrictions.
(iv) Publish and implement a National Obesity Policy and consider the introduction of evidence based fiscal measures including a sugar levy.
(v) Publish and implement a new National Drugs Strategy.
(vi) Use a portion of the revenue from increased tobacco and alcohol taxes and the new sugar levy to fund population health programmes.
(vii) Tackle the growing burden of chronic disease through a new model of care that focuses on prevention, health promotion and structured care for those with chronic conditions.