MARKET TESTING SPECIALIST HEALTH PROMOTION SERVICES - A TEST-CASE FORAN IMAGINATIVE PUBLIC-HEALTH PRESENCE IN PURCHASING

This paper focuses on the current pressure being imposed upon health p romotion services in the 'North West' Region in the form of 'market te sting'. It suggests that this is not only of concern to those services themselves, but may also act as a 'test case' for the examination of the range of competing perspectives that inform a purchasing function. The tensions between the views that respectively support or question the application of market values is thus examined in relation to the r ole of public health specialists within purchasing organizations. The paper concludes that although there is some potential to 'sharpen up' services, caution is required in avoiding unrestricted market values l eading to superficial and fragmented health promotion provision. It is admitted that there are consequences relating to health promotion spe cialists. However, because of the close affinity between health promot ion and public health, failure to protect health promotion from the ha rshness of the market and ensure a broad-based approach will not only be a set-back for health promotion but will also harm the status of 'p ublic health perspectives' in the broader purchasing context.