Interim first report on social determinants of health and the health divide in the WHO European Region
European Social Determinants and Health Divide Review - Chair of the Review: Sir Michael Marmot
Report prepared by: Sir Michael Marmot and his team - September 2010
Executive summary – PDF [41p.] at: http://bit.ly/f84Ber
“…..Although health has improved for many people, there are major inequalities in health - within and between countries - across the WHO European Region. Evidence shows that these inequalities should be mostly avoidable and has significant human and economic costs.
The WHO Regional Office for
Content:
Key Messages
1. There are major health inequalities within and between countries in the WHO European Region. Evidence shows that these inequalities should be mostly avoidable by reasonable means. Action is needed because of the significant human and economic costs.
2. Unless urgent action is taken, these gaps between and within countries will increase. This action must be both systematic and sustained and is critical in responding to the global economic downturn, allocating resources and developing a new health policy for the Region.
3. The lower a person’s social position, the worse his or her health is. Everyone except those at the very top experiences some degree of inequality in health.
4. Inequality in health arises from inequalities in the social determinants of health: social policies and programmes, economic arrangements and the quality of governance. This, in turn, is responsible for inequalities in the lives people are able to lead: early years, education, working conditions and employment levels, levels and distribution of income, communities and public health and health systems.
5. Action is needed across all key government sectors to reduce health inequalities. Health ministries have a vital role to play both in ensuring the contribution of the health system and in advocating for health equity in the development plans, policies and actions of players in other sectors. The health system alone cannot reduce health inequalities.
6. Realizing the potential of health for all in the Region requires scaling up and systematizing action on the social determinants of health and reducing inequalities in health. This review will inform - in the area of social determinants of health - the new health policy for the Region by:
- outlining existing knowledge and evidence and proposing action at the regional, national and local levels;
- enhancing awareness and the capacity to deliver; and
- building on the commitment by WHO, its partners and Member States in the European Region to increase policy awareness and action
Introduction
A. The health divide in the WHO European Region
Life expectancy
Age structure
Geographical differences within countries
Health indicators
B. Social determinants of inequality in health
Social and economic variation
Health and social determinants
Inequality in health between individuals based on their personal circumstances
C. What can be done?
Systems for action
Economic forces
Country differences and specific contexts
Measurement and monitoring
D. What are the next steps for review?
Role of the task groups
Structure of the review of social determinants and the health divide in the European Region
Draft timeline
References
* * *
This message from the Pan American Health Organization, PAHO/WHO, is part of an effort to disseminate
information Related to: Equity; Health inequality; Socioeconomic inequality in health; Socioeconomic
health differentials; Gender; Violence; Poverty; Health Economics; Health Legislation; Ethnicity; Ethics;
Information Technology - Virtual libraries; Research & Science issues. [DD/ KMC Area]
“Materials provided in this electronic list are provided "as is". Unless expressly stated otherwise, the findings
and interpretations included in the Materials are those of the authors and not necessarily of The Pan American
Health Organization PAHO/WHO or its country members”.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PAHO/WHO Website
Equity List - Archives - Join/remove: http://listserv.paho.org/Archives/equidad.html
Twitter http://twitter.com/eqpaho
IMPORTANT: This transmission is for use by the intended
recipient and it may contain privileged, proprietary or
confidential information. If you are not the intended
recipient or a person responsible for delivering this
transmission to the intended recipient, you may not
disclose, copy or distribute this transmission or take
any action in reliance on it. If you received this transmission
in error, please dispose of and delete this transmission.
Thank you.
No comments:
Post a Comment