Integrating Health Impact Assessment and Environmental Impact Assessment: A Catalyst for Sustainable Development and Public Health in India

Introduction

Health is an indispensable component of human well-being. It encompasses physical, mental, and social dimensions. Healthy populations are the foundations of prosperous and thriving societies. A proper healthcare system ensures increased productivity, economic growth, and social cohesion. In its ambit, health includes not only disease treatment and prevention; but also aspects such as access to healthcare services, adequate living conditions, sanitation, nutrition, pollution-free environment, housing, etc. Health is also interconnected with other domains such as education, poverty alleviation environmental stability etc. Therefore, health plays a pivotal role in moulding quality of life and contributes to the overall development of societies.

Right to health is an internationally recognized Human right, finding its base in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and Constitution of the World Health Organisation. These instruments envisage the highest attainable standard of health for every human being. Thus, health has to be given utmost priority by states in policy formation. However, this importance of health is largely overlooked by policymakers. While extensive policies are framed on various issues such as national security, economic stability, and infrastructural development, health considerations are often neglected. Thus, leading to weak disease prevention strategies, increased health disparity, increased healthcare costs and decreased productivity. A healthy population would mean a skilled and knowledgeable workforce. They would be better resilient to infectious diseases and epidemics. Health is an important determinant of a nation's prosperity and well-being and therefore it is imperative that policymakers incorporate health considerations into the decision-making process. In this fast-growing world health is affected by non-health sectors and this impact have to be given due regard by stakeholders. (Fehr et al., 2014; Kemm et al., 2004)

Globalization has contributed to accelerated colonisation and developmental progress. New inventions and innovations have revolutionized all areas of life. With the rise in urbanization and industrialisation we now have well-built roads, different transportation mechanisms, dams, mines, buildings etc. which has eased lifestyle and helped mankind progress. However, this comfort has its own consequences such as pollution, climate change, soil erosion, etc. These impacts therefore revealed the necessity to give due regard to sustainability.

Governments therefore started monitoring the environmental impacts of human activities and brought effective remedial measures. Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) were thus introduced to analyse the impact of any project, plan, or policy on the environment. EIAs are mandated by most of the countries before implementation of any mega project. EIAs would evaluate the potential harms of a project on the environment. This would provide decision-makers a holistic view of the potential effects of a project through which they may form informed decisions on whether to accept, reject, or modify the proposed project. EIAs therefore helps to bring balance between development and protection of biodiversity and ecosystems.

Environment is an important factor concerning human health. Natural environments have a direct influence on human health and well-being. Air, water, biodiversity, food security, etc are important determinants of health. Therefore, any interference with the environment would also have necessary repercussions on human health.

But EIAs fall short of adequately addressing the impacts of large projects on human health.(Bhatia & Wernham, 2008; Harris-Roxas et al., 2012) Despite the close relation, health considerations are not given due relevance in EIAs. In case of any project, a large population would be displaced. Not only are they moving out of their natural environment, but their settling in a different area may also lead to crowding and increased use of natural resources, putting them at a risk of vector borne and infectious diseases. Their access to good quality food, air, and water is also a challenge. Any developmental project would include construction activities. which would affect the air quality, soil fertility, flora, and fauna. It would also affect transportation and vehicle traffic. Thus, the threat to the health of nearby populations is apparent. Hence it becomes necessary to assess the health impacts of projects as well so that projects may be implemented giving top priority to citizen health. This is where Health Impact Assessment (HIA) becomes relevant.