Strategic entry point 4: Build capacity for social determinants of health equity in the health workforce and beyond

Advancing health equity requires a workforce that is not only skilled in clinical care, but also trained to understand and address the social determinants of health that shape health outcomes. While health care professionals play a crucial role in mitigating health inequities, the complexity of SDHE demands a multidisciplinary, intersectoral approach that extends beyond traditional health care settings. Strengthening SDHE-related competencies across local services – both within and outside the health sector – enhances the ability of professionals to collaborate effectively, use data for equity-driven decision-making, and implement policies that address the social and economic drivers of health.

Building on the world report recommendation 4.4, “Build and retain a health and care workforce capable of delivering equity”, this strategic entry point emphasizes developing tailored training programmes for health care professionals, non-health sectors and interdisciplinary teams working at the local level. By fostering intersectoral learning, improving policy literacy and equipping teams with practical tools, these capacity-building efforts ensure that SDHE considerations become integral to service planning and delivery. Training initiatives range from foundational literacy in social determinants of health and equity-based policy approaches, to advanced skills-building in data utilization, integrated information systems and local service coordination.

While additional areas are expected to emerge in the future, this strategic entry point currently consists of one core area, focused on training efforts under different streams of work:

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.