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Sammanfattning

The Swedish government has set a long-term goal to close the avoidable health gaps within one generation. The Commission for Equity in Health shall propose measures that can contribute to this goal. The work is based on the social determinants for health approach, with a focus on health inequalities between socioeconomic groups and between women and men. Based on earlier commission’s work and on research the Commission has identified seven areas where inequalities in conditions are essential for health equity. These are 1) Early life development; 2) Knowledge, skills and education; 3) Work, working conditions and work environment; 4) Income and economic resources; 5) Housing and neighbourhood conditions; 6) Health behaviours; and 7) Control, influence and participation. Improvements in health equity may in principle be achieved through policies that directly address conditions and opportunities in these areas. Such policies can aim at strengthening people’s own abilities to generate resources, as well as improving the resources provided through the welfare state. In addition, more equitable health can probably be achieved also through more strategic governance and follow-up of existing welfare state institutions and programmes.

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