On 17-18 November, the Expert Group on Social Determinants and Health Equity meet to discuss amongst other things an upcoming Joint Action on health inequalities. On this occasion, EUREGHA has shared a position paper with the Expert Group, emphasising the need for a new Joint Action to acknowledge the key role of local and regional authorities in creating and implementing policies to tackle health inequalities.

EUREGHA’s overall expectations on a new Joint Action on Health Inequalities is for it to effectively address the social inequalities of health, based on a whole-of-government approach, while including all levels of governance (from local to national and international).

The key messages from EUREGHA to the Expert Group on Social Determinants and Health Equity is that a new Joint Action should:

• Recognise the key role of local and regional authorities in creating and implementing policies to tackle health inequalities
• Take a whole-of-government approach to health equity, including the mandatory inclusion of all levels of governance
• Safeguard the dual role of the health system, as both a deliverer and a steward of health services, and as a steward of health and equity in other relevant sectors.

To read the full press release, please see here.
To read the full Position Paper, please see here.

For any additional information, please do not hesitate to contact the EUREGHA Secretariat (secretariat@euregha.net).