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 prescription schemes allowing healthcare professionals to 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
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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)