Tackling-health-inequities-from-concepts-to-practice-The-experience-of-Vastra-Gotaland

Section 2. Setting the sceneThis publication presents the experiences from Region Västra Götaland’swork with its commission to tackle health inequalities. To be of use forother regions and stakeholders, it is important to describe the Region and itsfunctions and an overview is in Box 1.Box 1. Quick factsRegion Västra Götaland (the organization) is:• the result of merging three county councils and parts of the city of Göteborgin 1999;• responsible for health care and medical treatment;• responsible for growth and development matters;• operates with costs of approximately 40 billion Swedish kronor; and• employs approximately 50 000 people.Region Västra Götaland (the territory) has:• 1.5 million inhabitants;• 49 municipalities;• Göteborg as its largest city;• the largest port in Scandinavia;• the status of Sweden’s leading region for industry and transportation; and• 23% of the population with at least 3 years tertiary education, the same levelas Sweden in general, which varies between 11% and 31% when looking atgeographical differences.Source: adapted and reproduced by permission from Region Västra Götaland (4,9).Regional organization in SwedenPublic administrationSweden has three formal levels of public government: the state atnational level, the municipalities at local level and the regions inSection 2. Setting the scene5