High-level forum on health equity in Slovenia

Closing by Ms Zsuzsanna Jakab, WHO Regional Director for Europe

Honourable Minister Marušič, Slovenian authorities, distinguished delegates, colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, it was an honour and privilege to attend this high-level forum and to learn about the issues facing Slovenia and the commitment and vision to make progress in promoting the health of Slovenians and reduce health inequities.

We have heard today that Slovenia shares challenges in the area of health inequities and their social determinants with many other countries in Europe.

We have seen that Slovenia has made good progress in improving the average life expectancy of the population over the last 20 years, and in this regard is one of the better-performing countries among newer European Union (EU) Member States.

We have also learnt from your most recent national report on inequalities in health in Slovenia, outlined by Dr Mojca Činč earlier today, that a clear gradient in health of the Slovenian population exists, with significant gaps between men and women in different social groups.

We have been reminded that these inequities, and their social and economic costs, pose a direct challenge to the attainment of values such as solidarity and social cohesion, which have been core principles underpinning policy and services in Slovenia over the last 20 years.

But we have also learnt about your plans and commitment to action! We have learnt about your plans to advance the social determinants of health and reduction of social inequalities, together with other ministries, as both an opportunity and priority in pursuing the vision of Slovenia’s development in the short and longer terms. We do need this sort of commitment and time frame. I congratulate Slovenia for its commitment and vision.

In my opinion, this event is continued evidence of Slovenia’s commitment to advance action nationally and in partnership with other countries across Europe. In doing so, in my view, Slovenia has become a pathfinder for progress in addressing social determinants and tackling social inequities in health.

In the call for action, I want to ensure that WHO’s technical support to Slovenia will continue. Our present and future cooperation will be of mutual benefit. Allow me to put forward a number of concrete examples here.

Through technical cooperation between Slovenia and the WHO Regional Office for Europe we can also strengthen our “European know-how” on some key areas for the implementation of the new health policy: Health 2020, which I mentioned in my opening this morning.

Specifically I refer to:

• the know-how we need to effectively and efficiently integrate health equity goals into broader objectives for country development;
• the know-how we need to reinforce such integration through structural mechanisms, such as financing frameworks and legal and regulatory measures;
• the know-how we need for cross-sectoral action and a whole-of-government approach – nationally and locally – to ensure coherence across policies, programmes and delivery systems to address commonly agreed equity objectives.

Thus, esteemed ministers, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to propose that Slovenia becomes one of our recognized pathfinders: for advancing a coherent approach across government on social determinants of health and inequities, for championing the democratization of public health and for achieving European health potential by 2020 and beyond.

I would also like to propose that we select Slovenia as one of the European examples that will be taken to the global WHO conference on social determinants of health, to be hosted by the Government of Brazil later in the year. The Regional Office’s centre in Venice, Italy is ready to work closely with you to present the Slovenian approach to addressing the social determinants of health and related inequities as an example of European country action and innovation to that global forum.

Finally, as I mentioned this morning, I would propose that a concrete proposal be produced as a follow-up to this event. The proposal should be tailored to support and foster partnership with interested countries in the South-eastern European (SEE) Health Network. For example, recently Slovenia requested our support to undertake a national review of governance capacity to address social determinants and reduce inequalities in health. The review report, entitled “Opportunities for strengthening governance of social determinants and reduction of health inequities”, showed there is much activity in the area of policies and programmes to address inequities and promote health and social cohesion, even across different ministries and across different stakeholders within the same policy sector. However, the coherence among these actors can be improved. This will increase the impact of efforts to promote health and tackle health inequities.

In my view, it would be very useful to find practical ways to share this learning and the methodology used to assess governance capacity with all the members of the SEE Health Network.

Allow me to finish by thanking our host and all those that have worked to put together such inspiring event.