The Department of Health has launched its strategy for the future of health services in Isle of Man. This is a high level document looking at the overall direction of health services for the next ten years. Whilst the financial situation is a reality which everyone including the health services must face, this is not the main driver for change – there are several other drivers such as changes in the population structure, changes in medical and other professionals’ training, changes in health care organisation and greater public expectation etc. There is a vision for health services which is detailed in the strategy; the key principles underlying the vision are greater emphasis on prevention and early detection, shift of emphasis from hospital to community, focus on quality and outcomes of service delivery rather than numbers and other process measures. The document was produced by the Public Health Directorate and approved by the Department. Subsequently it was submitted to the Council of Ministers who approved it for public consultation; this took place between February and June 2009, with all the comments taken into account. David Anderson MHK, Minister for Health said “The strategy sets the direction for health services in the next ten years; it is important at anytime, but particularly in times of economic stringency, we focus on what is important and that is what the strategy does.” David Killip, Chief Executive Officer of Department of Health said “The strategy aims to modernise the health services in the Isle of Man to make them even better; I fully endorse the ten year vision and I hope working together we can make the vision into a reality. I look forward to chairing the implementation steering group as we take the strategy forward." Dr Parameswaran Kishore, Director of Public Health said “The strategy is based on sound public health principles which have been proven to work. If we want to have a sustainable health service we need to focus on prevention.” - ENDS -