The Determinants of Health and the Long Road to Health Equity

It is not primarily the lack of medical treatment that leads to illness. Illness is often caused by social disadvantage and inequality and is therefore influenced by factors beyond the healthcare system. These include living and working conditions as well as social, political, environmental and economic factors that have a decisive influence on the development of illness. The knowledge that structural and social inequalities favour diseases has been well known for a long time and yet in recent years, especially since the outbreak of the corona pandemic, the increase in global conflicts and human rights violations, we have seen blatant setbacks on the path to equal health opportunities. We need to break new ground and deepen our knowledge to find out which social-justice-promoting approaches are most likely to lead to greater health equity. In this bulletin, you can read about key findings and promising (new) strategies on the road to health equity.