PHM-Exch> Primary health care and the social determinants of health: essential and complementary approaches for reducing inequities in health

[Claudio Schuftan]

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

 *Primary health care and the social determinants of health:
essential and complementary approaches for reducing inequities in health

*

Kumanan Rasanathan1, Eugenio Villar Montesinos1, Don Matheson3, Carissa
Etienne2, Tim Evans4

1 Department of Ethics, Equity, Trade and Human Rights, World Health
Organization, Geneva, Switzerland

2 Health Systems and Services Cluster, World Health Organization, Geneva,
Switzerland

3  Centre for Public Health Research, Massey University, Wellington, New
Zealand

4 Information, Evidence and Research Cluster, World Health Organization,
Geneva, Switzerland


*J Epidemiol Community Health** doi:10.1136/jech.2009.093914

***

Website: http://bit.ly/aOiQAT

‘……Increasing focus on health inequities has brought renewed attention to
two related policy discourses - primary health care and the social
determinants of health.



Both prioritise health equity and also promote a broad view of health,
multisectoral action and the participation of empowered communities.
Differences arise in the lens each applies to the health sector, with
resultant tensions around their mutual ability to reform health systems and
address the social determinants.



However, pitting them against each other is unproductive. Health services
that do not consciously address social determinants exacerbate health
inequities. If a revitalised primary health care is to be the key approach
to organise society to minimise health inequities, action on social
determinants has to be a major constituent strategy.



Success in reducing health inequities will require ensuring that the broad
focus of primary health care and the social determinants is kept foremost in
policy - instead of the common historical experience of efforts being
limited to a part of the health sector. ….”
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