World Health Organization

Action on the Social Determinants of Health to Reduce Health Inequities: The Contribution of Non-health Sectors

The Commission on Social Determinants of Health was convened by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2005 to provide advice on how to reduce health inequities. A Resolution was passed, entitled "Reducing health inequities through action on the social determinants of health", at the World Health Assembly in May 2009. Among a range of actions, the resolution strongly called for a health-in-all-policies approach and a renewed commitment to intersectoral action to reduce health inequities.

To guide the ongoing discussion, a document is planned which will summarise the key principles, methods and strategies that Member States need to consider in developing national plans of action on the social determinants to reduce health inequities. As part of this process, WHO and Breuninger Foundation were convening a meeting in September 2010 on Wasan Island to bring together a select group of experts from different sectors and countries. They discussed why and how other sectors can be successfully engaged for joint action on health and health equity. At the same time, there was a frank exchange on the difficulties on working across sectors, particularly with the health sector, and why intersectoral action has often failed in its goals. The aim is to identify principles and strategies, including necessary processes, tools and structures to achieve intersectoral action that results in a meaningful impact on health inequities, accommodating differing mandates, priorities and policy goals between sectors.

contact: Volker Hann