Welsh Health Equity Solutions Platform

Abstract

Abstract Health inequities are a longstanding issue in Wales, as they are across the globe. They disproportionately affect the health& wellbeing outcomes of disadvantaged groups, restricting opportunities to live full and prosperous lives. Post COVID-19 new groups are emerging with disproportionately higher risk of poor health and premature death and disease, especially those with unmet needs and vulnerabilities. More recently, the rising cost of living is amplifying health inequities. Despite their prevalence, health inequities are avoidable. Caused by multiple, interlinked factors; efforts to reduce health inequities thus require action on all the social determinants of health across the life course. Improved understanding of the key drivers of health gaps is needed to address the problem& provide support for solutions-driven action to break down the barriers to health equity. The Welsh Health Equity Solutions Platform (WHESP) is a new innovative tool developed around the WHO Health Equity Status Report initiative framework of the ‘five essential conditions’ for healthy, prosperous lives for all. WHESP aims to inform and facilitate policy and decision making to improve population health and address the increasing health gap. WHESP is an online gateway to data, health economics and modelling, policies, resources and innovative tools on health equity. Emerging evidence is highlighted to identify tools and solutions for achieving healthy prosperous lives for all in Wales and beyond. WHESP will be linked with and feed into a WHO health equity gateway, providing an example and inspiration for countries to learn and follow, as well as to contribute and share. WHESP recognises that there is not a ‘one size fits all’ approach. It provides an extensive body of evidence to inform evidence-based decision making to reduce the health gap, improve overall population health and wellbeing, and achieve inclusive and sustainable economic growth and prosperity for all. Key messages • Efforts to reduce health inequalities require action across all of the social determinants of health. • WHESP provides extensive evidence to facilitate cross-sectoral action and policy change.