[EQ] WHO Assembly Resolution on: Reducing health inequities through action on the social determinants of health

Reducing health inequities through action on the social determinants of health

 

SIXTY-SECOND WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY -  WHA62.14 - Agenda item 12.5

22 May 2009

 

Available online as PDF file at: http://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/A62/A62_R14-en.pdf

 

“….Confirming the importance of addressing the wider determinants of health and considering the actions and recommendations set out in the series of international health promotion conferences, from the Ottawa Charter on Health Promotion to the Bangkok Charter for Health Promotion in a Globalized World, making the promotion of health central to the global development agenda as a core responsibility of all governments,….”

 

CALLS UPON the international community, including United Nations agencies, intergovernmental bodies, civil society and the private sector:

(1) to take note of the final report of the Commission on Social Determinants of Health and its recommendations;

(2) to take action in collaboration with WHO’s Member States and the WHO Secretariat on assessing the impacts of policies and programmes on health inequities and on addressing the social determinants of health;

(3) to work closely with WHO’s Member States and the WHO Secretariat on measures to enhance health equity in all policies in order to improve health for the entire population and reduce inequities;

(4) to consider health equity in working towards achievement of the core global development goals and to develop indicators to monitor progress, and to consider strengthening international collaboration in addressing the social determinants of health and in reducing health inequities;

 

URGES Member States:

(1) to tackle the health inequities within and across countries through political commitment on the main principles of “closing the gap in a generation” as a national concern, as is appropriate, and to coordinate and manage intersectoral action for health in order to mainstream health equity in all policies, where appropriate, by using health and health equity impact assessment tools;

(2) to develop and implement goals and strategies to improve public health with a focus on health inequities;

(3) to take into account health equity in all national policies that address social determinants of health, and to consider developing and strengthening universal comprehensive social protection policies, including health promotion, disease prevention and health care, and promoting availability of and access to goods and services essential to health and well-being; (4) to ensure dialogue and cooperation among relevant sectors with the aim of integrating a consideration of health into relevant public policies and enhancing intersectoral action; (5) to increase awareness among public and private health providers on how to take account of social determinants when delivering care to their patients;

(6) to contribute to the improvement of the daily living conditions contributing to health and social well-being across the lifespan by involving all relevant partners, including civil society and the private sector;

(7) to contribute to the empowerment of individuals and groups, especially those who are marginalized, and take steps to improve the societal conditions that affect their health;

(8) to generate new, or make use of existing, methods and evidence, tailored to national contexts in order to address the social determinants and social gradients of health and health inequities;

(9) to develop, make use of, and if necessary, improve health information systems and research capacity in order to monitor and measure the health of national populations, with disaggregated data such as age, gender, ethnicity, race, caste, occupation, education, income and employment where national law and context permits so that health inequities can be detected and the impact of policies on health equity measured……….…”

 

 

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