PHM-Exch> WHO Assembly Resolution on: Reducing health inequities through action on the social determinants of health

[Claudio Schuftan]

From: Ruggiero, Mrs. Ana Lucia (WDC) <ruglucia at paho.org>
crosposted from: EQUIDAD at listserv.paho.org


 *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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