Taking a comprehensive approach to reducing health inequalities - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Taking a comprehensive approach to reducing health inequalities

Dr Erio Ziglio

European Office for Investment for Health and Development, Venice World Health Organization, Regional Office for Europe

Cardiff, 10 October 2013

Bringing about change European Review Health 2020

Demographic and epidemiological changes Widening of health gaps Challenging economic times Advancing of well-being Public health values and rights

Health 20 2020 20

Reduction of health inequities is central to the new European health policy – Health 2020:

• “A WHO European Region where all peoples are enabled and

supported in achieving their full health potential and well-being, and in which countries, individually and jointly, work towards reducing inequalities in health within the Region and beyond”.

• www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/147724/wd09E_Health2020_111332.pdf

2 Strategic Objectives

• Health promotion and reduction of inequities
• Strengthening the governance for health

Health 2020 and its scientific backing

Milan Moscow Cardiff Lisbon

Health Inequities, not just a national issue...

Governance, not just a national issue...

“Good health can no longer be seen as an

• utcome of one sector alone: sustainable

and equitable improvements in health are the product of effective policy across all parts of government and collaborative efforts across all parts of society.” 


Margaret Chan, WHO Director-General

Bringing about change European Review Health 2020

European Review Bringing about change Health 2020

Sub-national level is central to promote health and tackle health inequities

WHO Regions for Health Network new phase of development and renewed commitment

Health Inequities Evidence

Concern Denial/Indifference Mental Block Will to take action Isolated initiatives More structured development

Comprehensive coordinated strategy

Adapted from Whitehead et al.

• 1. From denial to comprehensive strategies

Policy Briefs

• 1. Foster & sustain regional commitment
• 2. Secure policy coherence
• 3. Develop skilled human resources
• 4. Scale up from isolated regional projects
• 5. Enable long-term regional investment
• 2. Regional leadership and know-how

• 6. Strengthen regional health systems
• 7. Increase capacity for health diplomacy
• 8. Move toward whole government approaches
• 9. Facilitate knowledge transfer
• 10. Reposition health within development
• 2. Regional leadership and know-how

• Where do we promote and sustain health in our

community?

• What strategy delivers good results in reducing

health inequities and gives value-added to regional development?

• How to strengthen regional governance to

address the above questions?

• 3. Key to have a strategic plan for change

Sustainable Societies