Review of social determinants and the health divide in the WHO European Region: final report

The WHO European Region has seen
remarkable health gains in populations that
have experienced progressive improvements
in the conditions in which people are born,
grow, live and work. Inequities persist,
however, both between and within countries.
This review of inequities in health between
and within countries across the 53 Member
States of the Region was commissioned to
support the development of the new
European policy framework for health and
well-being, Health 2020. Much more is
understood now about the extent and social
causes of these inequities. The European
review builds on the global evidence and
recommends policies to ensure that progress
can be made in reducing health inequities
and the health divide across all countries,
including those with low incomes. Action is
needed on the social determinants of health,
across the life-course and in wider social
and economic spheres to achieve greater
health equity and protect future generations