ARCHIVED - Crossing Sectors - Experiences in Intersectoral Action, Public Policy and Health

 

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to acknowledge the significant contribution to this paper by Lucy Gilson and Jane Doherty of the Health Systems Knowledge Network (HSKN) of the WHO Commission on Social Determinants of Health (SDH). In particular, thank you to the Regional Network for Equity in Health in East and Southern Africa (EQUINET) for conducting extensive research to identify sources used in this review and to Jane Doherty and Bronwyn Harris for summaries of key documents and experiences. Both Lucy and Jane provided helpful comments and advice on the outline and earlier drafts of this synthesis. Members of the HSKN generously shared insights into their experiences with intersectoral action for health and equity. Thanks to Nicole Valentine, Alexandra Nolen, Orielle Solar and Jeanette Vega of the Secretariat of the WHO Commission on Social Determinants of Health for providing materials and comments to shape this synthesis and analysis.

Preface

This paper was written for the Health Systems Knowledge Network (HSKN)1 established as part of the WHO Commission on the Social Determinants of Health, and was reviewed by at least one reviewer from within the HSKN and one external reviewer. Thanks are due to these reviewers for their advice on additional sources of information, different analytical perspectives and assistance in clarifying key messages.

Executive Summary

This paper represents the first phase of a Canadian initiative on intersectoral action for health and provides an overview of approaches to intersectoral action at the global, sub-regional, national, sub-national, and community levels. It is intended to contribute to the World Health Organisation's Commission on Social Determinants of Health (SDH) and is the result of collaboration between EQUINET, the Health Systems Knowledge Network of the Commission on SDH and the Public Health Agency of Canada.

Experiences documented by academics, policy-makers and practitioners in more than 15 countries are examined in an attempt to improve understanding of questions relating to:

As evidenced in this paper, the experience of intersectoral action offers significant lessons to draw upon:

The experiences reviewed in this paper demonstrate some successes in working vertically and horizontally for health gains. Given the resource implications of intersectoral efforts, however, a critical assessment of when, where and how to act is required. While a range of approaches have been used, at different levels of governance, there does not appear to be a “one size fits all” model.

Many questions remain. The information gleaned from this paper will help shape questions to be explored in the next phase of this initiative, involving subsequent case studies and analyses and a report of country and regional experiences in IA. This paper is also expected to inform the final report of the Health System Knowledge Network (HSKN) to the WHO Commission on Social Determinants of Health.

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2017-06-20