Analysis of social determinants of health and health inequities – a multi-country event on approaches and policy.

Kosice, Slovakia 12-17 October 2009

The WHO Regional Office for Europe through its Office for Investment for Health and Development (WHO Venice Office) is organizing a multi-country event in collaboration with the Faculty of Medicine of P.J. Safarik University and the Kosice Institute for Society and Health (KISH), in applied research and policy analysis on social determinants of health and health inequities.

Rationale
Routine monitoring of health inequities and the social determinants of health are critical to improving population health and in reducing avoidable difference in health opportunities and risks. However, this area remains generally limited or marginal within health intelligence functions and mainstream policy practice. The recent findings of the Global Commission on Social Determinants of Health (CSDH) strongly recommend the need for further investment in training of policy-makers and health practitioners in equity monitoring analysis and policy assessment techniques. The need for such investment has been further reinforced in The Tallinn Charter: Health Systems for Health and Wealth signed by the 53 Member States of the WHO European Region in Tallinn, Estonia in June 2008, and then globally endorsed through the signing and adoption of the World Health Assembly resolution WHA62.14 on reducing health inequities through action on the social determinants of health.

Aims
The main aims of the event are to:

1. Provide a forum for policy-makers, planners and analysts specifically from countries of central and eastern Europe (CCEE) the Baltic states and Balkans republics to debate, test and apply know-how, tools and practical techniques to monitor and analyse social inequities in health.
2. Strengthen and guide existing capacity and intelligence, in using evidence and analytical tools to advance national and sub-national strategies and targets to reduce social inequities in health.
   Content.

Thematic areas will include:

• Contemporary issues in the research and analysis of Social Determinants of Health and Health Inequities (SDHI)
• Explanatory frameworks for social inequities in health
• Health equity surveillance - data availability and equity stratifiers in routine statistics and reporting
• Approaches and methods in analysis of social determinants of health and health inequities.
• Ethnicity issue in research and policy
• Translation of research findings into policy and programs
• Equity focused policy analyses and option generation
• Economic analyses and incentives for addressing social determinants of health
• Public awareness of Social Inequities

Working style
To facilitate capacity building and interactive exchange, a range of learning techniques will be used including lectures, case study-based working groups, discussion fora and hands-on experience in analysis techniques, which are relevant to participants’ national contexts and health situation.

Morning sessions will consist of key-note speeches and lectures. These will be free of charge and open to the public and others who are interested in these issues. These sessions will have specific relevance for regional policy-makers, health practitioners, researchers and students from relevant fields. (Since places are limited, participants are kindly asked to register well in advance).

Afternoon sessions (open to representatives nominated by national heath authorities and institutions) will be organized around formal taught sessions and practical workshops, to support testing and application of learning to the country conditions and priorities of the participants.

The working language will be English.

Participants:
Participants will be selected among policy-makers and health practitioners from countries in central and castern Europe, Baltic states and Balkans republics. Priority is given to those countries and participants currently advancing work to reduce socially-determined health inequities and/or those about to embarking upon national commitments to tackle the social determinants of health and reduce health inequities.

Venue and dates:
12-17 October 2009
Safarik University, Šrobárova 2, Kosice, Slovakia.
Main university building, Historical hall - first floor