Movement Pills Policy Recommendations

POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS Positioning physical activity as preventive medicine through accessible community based approaches

The Movement Pills Approach

Movement Pills introduces an innovative, community‑based approach to promoting physical activity, specifically targeting individuals who are inactive or not reached by traditional sport and fitness programmes. Instead of relying on awareness campaigns or performance‑driven sport models, the methodology emphasises accessibility, prevention, and inclusion.

POLICY RECOMMENDATION 1 Embedding Physical Activity within Preventive Healthcare Systems National and Regional Level Physical activity must move from strategic recognition to structured implementation.

Why it matters Preventive physical activity is cost effective compared to long term treatment. It reduces healthcare burden while improving population health.

Key actions 1.Integrate

physical

activity

into

national

prevention plans with dedicated funding and governance structures 2.Align national strategies with WHO frameworks and

define

measurable

implementation

roadmaps 3.Introduce healthcare

prescription

schemes

professionals

to

allowing

recommend

supervised activities such as swimming, walking groups, or fitness programmes 4.Establish

monitoring

systems

to

track

participation and long term health outcomes

POLICY RECOMMENDATION 2 Institutionalising Cross Sector Cooperation at Local Level Local level Promotion of physical activity requires structured collaboration, not informal partnerships.

Why it matters Clear coordination reduces fragmentation and ensures that preventive advice leads to real participation.

Key actions 1.Create local governance frameworks linking healthcare providers, pharmacies, sports organisations, urban planners, and insurers 2.Develop clear referral pathways from healthcare advice to community based activities 3.Support cooperation models that define roles and responsibilities

POLICY RECOMMENDATION 3 Ensuring Equitable Access to Physical Activity Opportunities Local and Regional level Access to physical activity is shaped by infrastructure and socioeconomic conditions.

Why it matters Without targeted measures, prevention policies risk reinforcing existing inequalities.

Key actions 1.Prioritise inclusive and low threshold initiatives targeting inactive and vulnerable groups 2. Map territorial inequalities in access to safe and affordable movement spaces 3.Introduce financial support mechanisms such as sport vouchers 4.Promote simple and accessible activities like structured walking groups

POLICY RECOMMENDATION 4 Securing Long Term Sustainability and European Policy Alignment National and European level Long term impact depends on continuity beyond project funding.

Why it matters Sustained investment ensures that successful initiatives become part of long term systems rather than short term pilots.

Key actions 1.Integrate physical activity into existing health, sport, and cohesion funding frameworks 2.Ensure multiannual funding and policy coherence 3.Promote exchange of scalable and transferable practices across Member States 4.Support emerging initiatives with strong preventive potential

MOVEMENT PILLS Copyright belongs to the Authors, Contributors and to the European Commission. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the permission of the publisher. The information contained in this publication is believed to be correct at the time of going to press. While care has been taken to ensure that the information is accurate, the publishers can accept no responsibility for any errors or omissions or for changes to the details given.

Movement Pills (Pillole di movimento) is a collaborative initiative aimed at promoting physical activity for psychophysical and social wellbeing and combating sedentary lifestyles: https://www.movement-pills.eu/

Authors: EPSI (BE) Contributors: UISP (IT) ISCA (DK) OVIDIUS UNIVERSITY OF CONSTANTA (RO) SWIM FOR A DREAM (IE) OLYMPIACOS SFP (GR) BG Be Active (BG) FirmaSport (EE)