Social prescriptions are not prescriptions for treatment, but for various types of community-based activities. What can family doctors do when loneliness is a diagnosis? Healthcare
About one in five visits to primary care is related to problems that cannot be solved through medical interventions alone, such as loneliness, social isolation, financial difficulties or inadequate housing conditions. In this case, social prescriptions can help patients.
Social prescriptions are not prescriptions for treatments, but for a variety of community-based activities, from group walks and volunteering to arts programs and debt management counseling.
Social prescribing serves as a link between health services and community resources, thereby helping to improve population health, reduce inequalities and reduce the burden on already stretched health systems.
New WHO Partnership Center
The World Health Organization (WHO) recently appointed a National Academy of Social Prescribing (NASR) from the UK Partnership Center for Supporting Global Policy Development and Implementation on Social Prescriptions. This demonstrates recognition of the leading role of the Academy in promoting the concept of social prescriptions at the international level.
Led by NACP Global Programs Director and Clinical Program Manager Dr. Bogdan Chiva-Gurka, the Center will build on the Academy’s existing work supporting government agencies and partners in at least 36 countries. NASR will provide technical support to WHO Member States to share global best practice, help build the evidence base for the concept of social prescriptions and help countries develop and implement appropriate mechanisms and policies.
The role of the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom was the first country to integrate social prescription into national health policy. There are now more than 3,300 social prescription coordinators across the country, and more than a million people are referred for social prescriptions every year. Evidence suggests that this approach can help improve people’s well-being and community resilience, and reduce unnecessary pressure on health systems.
Thanks to a team of social prescribing specialists, Andy, 56, was able to access a range of local interest groups.
“About eight months ago, I began to have serious mental health problems and suffered from chronic pain. It was quite obvious that pills alone could not solve the problem, says Andy. – Social recipes have become a salvation for me, a real gift of fate. I now have a choice, a purpose in life and a social environment.”
Growing interest in social recipes
“Social prescriptions are a powerful tool for addressing the social determinants of health,” says Niels Fietje, Technical Specialist for Culture and Health. “More and more countries in the European Region are interested in mechanisms related to social prescriptions, and through the partnership with NASR we can better support states along this path.”
Examples of innovative approaches are emerging across the region. Thus, the Greek Ministry of Culture has established a national arts therapy program that helps people with mental health problems attend cultural events. The program, which underwent two pilot phases over four years involving more than a thousand people and 21 organizations, demonstrated that museums, film institutes, opera houses and other cultural institutions can play a meaningful role in improving people’s mental health and well-being.
Building a global network
First WHO partner center a network of hospitals in Singapore was designated for social prescriptions in 2024. Now, with the UK NACP being awarded the same status, the two centers will contribute to the development of a global network of knowledge sharing and technical support on social prescription issues across all WHO regions.
“We are honored to be awarded WHO Collaborating Center status,” says NACP Executive Director Charlotte Osborne-Ford. “It recognizes the importance of social prescribing as an evidence-based, inclusive approach that empowers patients and strengthens health systems and communities.”