10-07-202646
This report, prepared by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations, analyses the root causes of inequality in human health and presents concrete recommendations for addressing them.
The report emphasises that people's health is determined not solely by medical care, but is closely linked to their living conditions, income levels, access to education, employment opportunities, social protection, and such factors as gender, race, and disability. These factors are referred to as social determinants of health and define the population's capacity to lead a healthy life.
Primary objective of the report:
To ensure equal and equitable conditions for health protection across all segments of the population, to broaden opportunities for low-income and vulnerable groups, and to reduce the impact of social inequality on health outcomes.
Key recommendations:
The report sets out 14 recommendations, including:
• Reducing economic inequality and investing in universal social services.
• Ensuring equitable access to medical care.
• Analysing the negative impact of commercial interests on public health.
• Making appropriate use of digital transformation in health protection.
• Building human resource capacity and supporting local authorities.
• Integrating environmental issues, climate change, and biosafety into health policy.
• Ensuring health equity in emergency situations (conflict, migration, epidemics).
Why does this matter?
The report proceeds from the premise that differences in health status among various population groups are not accidental, but rather the consequence of societal inequality and the unequal distribution of opportunities. Accordingly, policies and strategies must be grounded in the principles of human rights and social justice.
Conclusion:
Health equity is an integral component of fundamental human rights. To achieve it, every state must accord priority attention to social determinants in its policy and create conditions enabling all segments of the population to lead healthy lives.