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

Despite remarkable health gains, inequities persist between and within countriesin the WHO European Region and Sweden is no exception. Actions to effectivelytackle health inequities need to be carried out at all levels of government. Regionshave a key role to play in tackling health inequities in that they are close to theirpopulations and have the power and skills to develop efficient public health policiesthat may contribute in reducing health disparities by changing the distribution ofsocial determinants of health.The report is about the process that the Region of Västra Götaland followed tomainstream the health equity dimension in its regional health plan and which resultedin the Action Plan for Health Equity in Region Västra Götaland. This publication isan account of the factors that made it possible, but it also presents a fair account ofthe obstacles encountered and the measures to overcome them. The report is a goodillustration of how whole-of-government and whole-of-society approaches proposedby Health 2020 have been implemented in a real setting.World Health OrganizationRegional Office for EuropeUN City, Marmorvej 51ISBN 978-92-890-5054-8DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, DenmarkTel.: +45 45 33 70 00Fax: +45 45 33 70 01Email: contact@euro.who.intWebsite: www.euro.who.int9 789289 050548 >