The equity action spectrum: Taking a comprehensive approach. Guidance for addressing inequities in health.
This document is proposed as guidance for European nations in moving towards meeting the goals of Health 2020, which is the European policy framework for health and well-being endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO) European region in 2012. Identifying health as a human right, Health 2020 calls for joint action across multiple sectors including government, health, and non-health partners. The equity action spectrum consists of four key stages essential to building a comprehensive approach and action plan at a national, regional, or local level:
- securing political commitment and multi-sectoral action;
- assessing the problem and possible intervention points;
- deciding on optimum organizational and accountability arrangements; and
- drawing up a strategy and action plan.
Recognizing the need for a combination of universal and targeted approaches to reduce inequities in health, the report stresses that inequities affect every segment of the population and therefore require a universal approach. The case is made that reducing the health equity gap is achieved by improving the health of those who are worse off faster than those who already have better health, meaning that additional effort over and above the population health approach is needed to improve the health of disadvantaged groups.
This policy brief also offers an overview of eight system components outlined by the WHO, including a list of tools, resources and examples that support action on the framework components discussed in the document. As well, 10 specific examples from countries across Europe are offered as demonstrations of how the principles described in the report have been applied successfully to address inequities in health.
Use this resource to
- consider how the framework applies to a local or Canadian context
- review steps that can be taken to address the social determinants of health in public health policy-making
- explore policy intervention options to address health inequities
Reference
Whitehead, M., Povall S., Loring, B. The equity action spectrum: taking a comprehensive approach. Guidance for addressing inequities in health [Internet]. Geneva: World Health Organization: 2014. [cited 2014 Nov 04] 40 p. Available from: http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/247631/equity-action-090514.pdf
A summary of this document has been prepared by NCCDH as a tool to highlight the four stages of the framework and various projects in Canada that can be considered examples of the framework stages in action.
Tags: Access to health services, Evaluation, Healthy public policy, Intersectoral action, Leadership & capacity building, Modify and orient interventions, Participate in policy development