This paper presents findings from the Portuguese pilot of the European Joint Action Health4EUKids, which tested participatory, multi-sectoral methods to design and implement policies for childhood obesity prevention. The action-research model implemented mobilized schools, families, municipalities, and health services to co-create interventions promoting children's biopsychosocial well-being. The assessment revealed that 66% of the children had a body mass index within the normal range, while 11% were overweight and 4% obese. Despite indicators of healthy eating habits, 36% of children did not meet WHO recommendations for daily physical activity. In terms of mental health, 57% reported irritability and 46.7% nervousness, although there were overall positive indicators of quality of life, well-being, and peer relationships. Differences were observed between sexes, with girls showing better levels of emotional well-being and boys showing greater involvement in physical activity. Screen dependence was moderate to high in about 50% of the sample, being more prevalent in urban areas. The application of the Living Healthy Tool revealed more favorable perceptions in rural areas while in urban areas greater barriers related to safety and access to sports infrastructures were identified. The study highlights the effectiveness of participatory governance for health promotion, offering policy pathways for actions on a national and European Union level.

Costa Rica's health system, which is predominantly public and organized under the National Health System, has achieved significant progress in health coverage and outcomes. Nevertheless, it continues to face persistent challenges related to waiting lists and waiting times for specialized care. Despite sustained progress toward universal coverage, approximately 10% of the population -particularly in rural areas- remains uninsured, resulting in gaps in effective access to healthcare services. Between 2019 and 2024, records from the Costa Rican Social Security Fund (Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social) show substantial increases in the number of individuals awaiting outpatient procedures, surgical interventions, and specialist consultations, as well as significant rises in waiting times. This situation contrasts with the existence of underutilized installed capacity during regular working hours, raising questions about the effectiveness and coherence of strategies that rely primarily on overtime sessions as the main institutional response. This article develops a theoretical framework for addressing waiting lists that explicitly incorporates the principles of equity, human rights, ethics, and distributive justice. From this perspective, waiting lists are understood as a social justice issue that disproportionately affects populations in situations of greater vulnerability. The article also reviews economic approaches to the problem and concludes that the sustainable reduction of waiting lists and waiting times requires a systemic, transparent, and ethically grounded approach.