Abstract

Evidence indicates that actions within four main themes (early child development, fair employment and decent work, social protection, and the living environment) are likely to have the greatest impact on the social determinants of health and health inequities. A systematic search and analysis of recommendations and policy guidelines from intergovernmental organizations and international bodies identified practical policy options for action on social determinants within these four themes. Policy options focused on early childhood education and care; child poverty; investment strategies for an inclusive economy; active labour market programmes; working conditions; social cash transfers; affordable housing; and planning and regulatory mechanisms to improve air quality and mitigate climate change. Applying combinations of these policy options alongside effective governance for health equity should enable WHO European Region Member States to reduce health inequities and synergize efforts to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Contents

• ABBREVIATIONS
• CONTRIBUTORS
• SUMMARY
• 1. INTRODUCTION
  • 1.1. Background
  • 1.2. Aim
  • 1.3. Methodology
• 2. RESULTS
  • 2.1. Improving early child development
  • 2.2. Improving access to fair employment and decent work
  • 2.3. Improving social protection through social cash transfers
  • 2.4. Improving the living environment
• 3. DISCUSSION
  • 3.1. Strengths and limitations
  • 3.2. Policy considerations
  • 3.3. Multisectoral action
  • 3.4. Different country contexts
• 4. CONCLUSIONS
• REFERENCES
• ANNEX 1. SEARCH STRATEGY
• ANNEX 2. POLICY MAPS
• ANNEX 3. GLOSSARY
• ANNEX 4. GOVERNANCE FOR HEALTH EQUITY

Suggested citation:

Saunders M, Barr B, McHale P, Hamelmann C. Key policies for addressing the social determinants of health and health inequities. Copenhagen: WHO Regional Office for Europe; 2017 (Health Evidence Network (HEN) synthesis report 52).

The Health Evidence Network

HEN – the Health Evidence Network – is an information service for public health decision-makers in the WHO European Region, in action since 2003 and initiated and coordinated by the WHO Regional Office for Europe under the umbrella of the European Health Information Initiative (a multipartner network coordinating all health information activities in the European Region).

HEN supports public health decision-makers to use the best available evidence in their own decision-making and aims to ensure links between evidence, health policies and improvements in public health. The HEN synthesis report series provides summaries of what is known about the policy issue, the gaps in the evidence and the areas of debate. Based on the synthesized evidence, HEN proposes policy options, not recommendations, for further consideration of policy-makers to formulate their own recommendations and policies within their national context.

Office for Investment for Health and Development

The Office for Investment for Health and Development in Venice, Italy, is the centre of excellence of the WHO Regional Office for Europe in the thematic areas of social and economic determinants of health, health equity and investment for health in the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It also coordinates the WHO Regional Office's Regions for Health Network and the Small Countries Initiative. It aims to generate and disseminate cutting-edge knowledge and to assist the Member States of the WHO European Region by building strong partnerships and networks with governments, public and private sector, academia and think tanks, and a broad range of civil society stakeholders. The Office was established in 2003 through a Memorandum of Agreement between the Government of Italy, the Veneto Region and the WHO Regional Office for Europe.

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ISSN 2227-4316

ISBN 978 92 890 5265 8

© World Health Organization 2017

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