Arts interventions, such as singing in a choir to improve chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, are considered non-invasive, low-risk treatment options and increasingly being used by WHO Member States to supplement more traditional biomedical treatments.

The Health Evidence Network (HEN) synthesis report on arts and health, which will be launched on November 11 next, maps the global academic literature on this subject in both English and Russian. It references over 900 publications, including 200 reviews covering over 3000 further studies. As such, the report represents the most comprehensive evidence review of arts and health to date. The report finds evidence of the contribution of the arts to the promotion of good health and the prevention of a range of mental and physical health conditions, as well as the treatment or management of acute and chronic conditions arising across the life-course.

The arts can be cost effective solutions since they can frequently draw on existing assets or resources, although more research is needed into the health economics of this field. The report also finds that the arts may help in providing multisectoral, holistic and integrated people-centred care, addressing complex challenges for which there are no current healthcare solutions.