Strategic entry point 1: Equip local governments and local districts to promote service integration and reduce health inequities

Ensuring equitable access to health and social services requires a coordinated, person-centred approach that responds to the diverse and interconnected needs of individuals and communities. Traditional health and social care systems often operate in silos, leading to fragmented services that fail to address the structural and social determinants of health equity (SDHE). Effective integration of social care, community support and health care at the local level strengthens service accessibility, enhances equity-driven decision-making, and fosters comprehensive well-being.

Building on the world report recommendation 4.1, “Equip local governments to reduce health inequities”, this strategic entry point focuses on the local integration of social care, community support, health care and other local services, to address interconnected needs holistically and equitably. This approach aims to improve the quality of services and the quality of life for individuals and communities by fostering collaboration between local government sectors and community actors. Integration emphasizes both vertical connectivity (linking policy to local action) and horizontal (cross-sectoral) connectivity, ensuring that interventions are person-centred and community-driven. It reorients traditional care models toward comprehensive well-being by empowering local teams to define processes, and fostering shared intersectoral governance systems. This entry point consists of a series of interconnected processes, organized into three core areas: 

This strategic entry point is interlinked with other strategies to address the social determinants of health and advance health equity, as outlined in the SIMASHE knowledge-sharing diagram.