The economic crisis has led to increased demand and reduced resources for health sectors. The trend for increasing
healthcare costs to individuals, the health sector and wider society is significant. Public health can be part of the
solution to this challenge. The evidence shows that prevention can be cost-effective, provide value for money and
give returns on investment in both the short and longer terms. This public health summary outlines quick returns on
investment for health and other sectors for interventions that promote physical activity and healthy employment;
address housing and mental health; and reduce road traffic injuries and violence. Vaccinations and screening
programmes are largely cost-effective. Population-level approaches are estimated to cost on average five times less
than individual interventions. This report gives examples of interventions with early returns on investment and
approaches with longer-term gains. Investing in cost-effective interventions to reduce costs to the health sector and
other sectors can help create sustainable health systems and economies for the future.