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National Level Policies

The National Level Policies section of the portal provides an overview of
the actual situation concerning actions to tackle health inequalities in the
different European countries.

This part of the portal is currently being developed, the information for the remaining countries will continuously be completed.

In addition to the national level portraits of the individual countries the
overview analysis has been conducted and its initial results have been
published in EuroHealth magazine (EuroHealth, 11:2 p.24).

Download the final 'Closing the Gap' publication: Taking Action on Health Equity.

This publication contains summaries of what each of the 21 ´Closing the Gap´ partners are doing to address health inequalities in their countries, as well as the conclusions and recommendations of this 3-year initiative.

Results of the same country

List all good practice projects of the actual country.

You are here: > National Level Policies > Overview > Policy Focus

Policy Focus

Figure 3: Focus of the policies addressing health inequalities.

10 countries presented health inequalities policies that focus on disadvantaged groups of the population thereby acknowledging their vulnerable position without addressing the gap that exists between different socio-economic status group of the population.  While Latvia presents health inequalities initiatives as focusing on disadvantaged groups of the population only, Hungary has put special emphasis on the needs of Roma’s population.
Graham and Kelly [4] have highlighted the fact that even if these approaches might be effective in their attempt to lift the worst-off of the extreme situation in which they are, they only help a relatively small part of the population and may not be sufficient to close the health gap.

7 countries mentioned health inequalities policies that focus on reducing the gap between better-off and worst-off sections of the population. This approach acknowledges the need to make sure that health improvements in the population as a whole are speeded up sufficiently in lower socio economic classes as compared to other groups.
In Northern Ireland for example, tackling health inequalities is part of the current health policy document “Investing for Health”. Goals of the programme focus on improving the health of people notably by reducing inequalities in health between geographic area, socio-economic and minority groups.

Although some countries have acknowledged the issue of the health gradient, only Wales and Norway have presented comprehensive health inequalities policies that address the Health Gradient.
Norway has recently published a report ‘The Challenge of the Gradient’ [5] as a plan of action that outlines future strategies to reduce social inequalities in health.

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previous page: Approaches Addressing Health Inequalities << Policy Focus >> next page: Health Determinants

References

[4]Graham, H and Kelly, M Health Inequalities: Concepts, framework and policy. Briefing paper NHS 2004

[5] The Norwegian Directorate for Health and Social Affairs. The Challenge of the Gradient, Plan for Action to reduce social inequalities in Health. May 2005