Publications

COVID‑19 health equity impact policy brief: informal workers (2020)

COVID‑19 has inflicted disproportionate health and economic risks on informal workers, who are least equipped to withstand these risks.

Health inequity and the effects of COVID‑19 (2020)

This publication sets out an agenda to address both pre-existing and new vulnerabilities and inequities by first identifying a range of key health-related socioeconomic impacts of COVID‑19 and its containment measures and, secondly, proposing mitigation measures to reduce them.

WHO European Office for Investment for Health and Development biennial report 2018–2019 (2020)

Strategic mapping of institutional frameworks and their approach to equity (2019)

This report analyses a series of selected policy frameworks that guide the work of key institutions from within and outside of the health sector, including United Nations agencies, international and regional organizations, and national governments.

Strategic mapping of public perceptions of health equity (2019)

This report scans and analyses a series of public opinion surveys conducted across the Region to explore perceptions on health equity-related issues and identify factors that may potentially enable, support or hinder the scale-up and implementation of the Health Equity Status Report initiative of the WHO Regional Office for Europe.

How to keep people at the centre of health and sustainable development policies (2019)

25th annual meeting of the Regions for Health Network Aachen (Germany), Maastricht (Netherlands), Liège (Belgium), Hasselt (Belgium) 26–28 June 2019

Health Equity Policy Tool (2019)

The purpose of this document is to formally consult with Member States and partners of the WHO European Region on the Health Equity Policy Tool as a proposed instrument for monitoring progress and prioritizing multisectoral policy action for increasing health equity in the Region

Accountability as a driver of health equity (2019)

This paper highlights how accountability mechanisms and processes can play a vital role in driving progress on the Health 2020 and Sustainable Development Goals health equity commitments.

Policy coherence as a driver of health equity (2019)

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals provide the framework to advance policy coherence for health equity. As policy coherence concerns different levels of governance, the mechanisms for the public health community to drive for policy coherence are both systemic and administrative.

Participation as a driver of health equity (2019)

Social participation is about population involvement in decisions that affect their health. The promotion of this social innovation as a general rule of governance in all policies would be a key driver of health equity.

Driving forward health equity – the role of accountability, policy coherence, social participation and empowerment (2019)

A scientific expert review process identified societal and institutional factors that singly and in combination offer new explanations on why progress on health equity has not been as fast as had been hoped when the association between individual determinants and inequities was first established.

Croatia: health and employment (2019)

A significant problem in Croatia is the large number of people not working because of health-related problems. Work-related physical and mental disorders represent an increasing burden to the health-care system and employers with mental disorders as the main cause of disability.

Flyer - Health Equity Status Report Initiative (2018)

This flyer is shared as communication material, provided in designer format intended for printing and use in the promotion of the Health Equity Status Report Initiative.

Governing for health equity and sustainable development in Montenegro (2017)

This report describes the findings of an appraisal mission on the governance arrangements and approach to addressing the issues of health equity and the social determinants of health (SDH) in Montenegro.

Engagement and participation for health equity (2017)

A core principle of Health 2020 is reducing health inequities across the population, along with the importance of participation and responsiveness, with the full engagement of people.

Leaflet - Highlights from the Health Evidence Network synthesis report 51

A review of the social return on investment from public health policies to support implementing the Sustainable Development Goals by building on Health 2020

Social return on investment - Accounting for value in the context of implementing Health 2020 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (2017)

Social return on investment (SROI) is a concept to account for social value when evaluating investments. It goes beyond traditional economic evaluation tools, by considering value produced for multiple stakeholders in all three dimensions of development: economic, social and environmental.

Advocating intersectoral action for health equity and well-being: the importance of adapting communication to concept and audience (2017)

On 6–7 July 2016, the WHO European Office for Investment for Health and Development, Venice, Italy, of the WHO Regional Office for Europe, within the framework of the WHO Regions for Health Network, hosted a summer school in Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Social justice and human rights as a framework for addressing social determinants of health (2016)

Final report of the Task group on Equity, Equality and Human Rights

Governance for health equity (2013)

This report analyses why policies and interventions to address the social determinants of health and health inequities succeed or fail. It also discusses important features of governance and systems for service delivery that increase the likelihood of success in reducing inequities.