Introduction: Health impact assessment (HIA) is rapidly growing in France. It shows similarities with other approaches, such as the evaluation of public policies (EPP), with which it can sometimes be mistaken for.Purpose of research: The aims of this article are to identify the similarities and differences between HIA and EPP and to assess the extent to which HPA skills are transferable to HIA.
Results: The two approaches share common features: they are both based on principles and values that structure practice; they produce a judgement at the end of an argumentation process; they follow the same thinking process and use similar tools. However, HIA has specific features that justify the strengthening of skills, particularly in relation to its participatory dimension.
Conclusions: The two approaches have more similarities than differences due to their evaluative nature. The competences acquired in PPE are transferable to HIA and the evaluator at the crossroads of the two exercises can revisit and enrich his practice in PPE.