Stepping up implementation of the Health 2020 vision for health equity and well-being in the Nordic and Baltic States
26–27 October 2016, Stockholm, Sweden
To accelerate action on the implementation of the Health 2020 vision for health equity and well-being, the WHO Regional Office for Europe, the Swedish Ministry of Health and Social Affairs and the Public Health Agency of Sweden have organized a high-level policy dialogue for the Nordic and Baltic States.
The meeting seeks to support policy-makers inside and outside government organizations, creating an opportunity to exchange knowledge about emerging evidence, policy experiences and promising practices.
The Health 2020 policy framework’s strategic objectives include improving health for all and reducing health inequities, as well as improving leadership and participatory governance for health. Achieving these objectives requires an approach that considers health in all policies. Further, a whole-of-society approach is required to improve health and reduce the impact of social determinants of health. These and other approaches will be discussed at the meeting in Stockholm.
The policy dialogue will also examine the way in which Health 2020 can act as a stepping stone in the WHO European Region towards the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Health and equity occupy central places in the Agenda’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as major contributors to and beneficiaries of sustainable development policies. The process of implementing the 2030 Agenda at national and subnational levels can provide an important opportunity to express clearly both how the health of the population is related to inclusive development and growth and the connection between sustainable development and health equity and well-being.
The meeting will focus on three themes:
- framing action on health equity and well-being in cross-sectoral policies and decision-making;
- models for cooperation and co-creation of health, well-being and equity among the public sector, civil society and a social economy; and
- health equity as a fundamental element in sustainable development.
