Scope & Purpose PDF Print E-mail
Wednesday, 07 October 2009 10:30

Scope & Purpose

Evidence suggests that inequalities in health are caused by differences in the so-called socio-economic determinants of health, such as occupation, income, education, housing and access to transport. One of the most prominent recent publications in the field is the so-called Marmot Report, published by the WHO in 2008. The publication reveals that the patterns of global and regional health distribution follow the so-called social gradient: The wider the gap in socio-economic health determinants, the wider the gap also in life expectancy and health. This phenomenon exists between, but also within countries and even cities: In any geographic unit, considerably shorter life expectancies are found in the more disadvantaged population groups compared to those who are better off.

In light of the fact that improvements in inequalities may need action in as diverse fields as education, transport, welfare and housing, but also international cooperation, economy and trade, one might wonder if and how hospitals and health services can make an impact. But there are indeed a number of good reasons why they can, and should do so:

  • First of all, hospitals and health services are themselves sources of inequalities in health for their patients, clients and workforce. If they don’t adapt their own functioning and services to the specific needs of different staff, patient and community groups, they may add to preserve or even increase existing inequalities.
  • Secondly, hospitals and health services have the potential to mitigate some of the negative health effects caused elsewhere by reducing thresholds to care and by offering health education to improve the health literacy disadvantaged groups.
  • Last but not least, hospitals and health services have a strong voice and considerable expertise for advocating and mediating change in their communities, by forming alliances and engaging in partnerships for improving equity in health.

Because of the high relevance of inequalities for public health, the European Union labelled 2010 the European year for combating poverty and social exclusion. With the HPH conference 2010 taking place in Manchester, UK, the event is hosted by a country with leading expertise in the field. It is for these reasons that the Scientific Committee decided to focus the conference 2010 on contributions of health and social services to tackling inequalities in health, with the following main themes:

Health and social services belong to the few institutions having contact with the most disadvantaged and vulnerable groups of the population. While they may not be able to influence wider health determinants such as employment or education, there are numerous determinants of inequalities well within their area of influence. Amongst others, the conference will look at concepts and examples in the following areas:

  • How can hospitals and health services reduce barriers to care for disadvantaged and vulnerable groups?
  • How can they contribute to improving health literacy especially for the most disadvantaged?
  • How can they support equity in health by advocacy, alliances and partnerships?
  • How can they use their purchasing power to strengthen local economies and employment opportunities?

Different life phases are associated with different risks to health and equity. Effective action for health needs to consider and address these differences. Against this background, the conference will look at specific forms of empowerment, education, outreach and alliance-building for effectively reducing specific inequalities in health for four target groups:

  • Pre-conception and early life: How can hospitals, health and social services contribute to a fair start for the youngest?
  • Childhood and adolescence: How can hospitals and health services, in alliances with kindergartens, schools and other organisations, support children to develop mentally and physically healthy?
  • Middle life: What strategies and examples are there to support the health needs of the increasing number of unemployed people?
  • Older age: What options are there to reducing equality gaps during the last life phase?

The working population – be it in healthcare or in other branches – mirrors population inequalities. Hospitals as employers, but also occupational health services in other branches, should pay attention to, and address, the health problems linked to these. The conference will focus on:

  • What inequalities do exist in different workforces, especially within health services?
  • How do workplace health promotion and occupational health services react to inequalities in the workforce? Are there compensatory services offered and resources redistributed?
  • What examples of good practice are there?

Health and social services have many opportunities for single interventions to compensate existing health and social inequalities by improving access and treatment for disadvantaged groups. In its closing session, the conference will look at the role of strategic management in making such interventions more powerful by

• orientating organisational policy towards corporate social responsibility

  • strategic cooperation between service providers
  • engaging in sustainable development as one important precondition for equity in health

 

Conference topics will be presented and discussed in keynote lectures and panels, paper sessions, workshops, mini-presentations and poster sessions. In addition, a summer school and a pre-conference on smoke-free hospitals wil be organised. Information on how to submit conference papers is available in the 'call for papers' section.

The conference provides a forum for exchange and further development of knowledge and experiences for the following target groups:

  • Health care professionals from the medical, nursing and therapeutic fields;
  • Hospital and health care managers;
  • Representatives from patient organisations and other NGOs;
  • Representatives from health policy and health administration;
  • Public health actors and experts;
  • Health and health promotion scientists and practitioners; and
  • Health care consultants.