Building the evidence for action

There is increasing evidence in the scientific literature studying the causes of health inequities and what to do about it, for instance, what policies, institutions, investments and ways of working across sectors to address the social determinants of health can improve health equity.

A priority for the WHO team is to provide ongoing compilation of the evidence as it is generated, and to translate the evidence into meaningful information for action by government, civil society, other stakeholders and disadvantaged populations. This is being progressed through the development of the flagship World Report on Social Determinants of Health. 

Key strategies that WHO undertakes to build the evidence base includes:

• Ensuring the provision of consistent, strong messages on the trends in health equity and their link to the social determinants of health;
• Providing international evidence related to societal progress, well-being, health and equity and making the case for investment;
• Monitoring essential conditions for health equity, and reviewing policies for evidence of health equity impacts;
• Advancing intervention packages and disseminating information on concrete actions to be taken by countries and global actors;
• Leading developments on the social determinants of health for equity in the WHO and the UN system;
• Building networks to support research alliances; and 
• Progressing the development of a core set of indicators that describe social determinants of health to promote consistency in global and national reporting.