Reducing social inequalities in health

Programme Summary

Why is the programme needed? Poland, like many other European countries, has experienced a steady growth in life expectancy and significant improvements in health status over the past years. However, different social factors trigger increasing inequalities in health, such as unequal income distribution, living conditions, healthcare services, as well as differences in nutrition, alcohol and substance abuse etc. Through analysis of the current situation and policy, it should be possible to find measures and activities to reduce inequalities in health across different social groups and improve the access to healthcare. What will the programme achieve? Under the first programme outcome, improved governance in health care, the programme aims to develop integrated instruments to reduce health inequalities. Under the second outcome, lifestyle related diseases prevented or reduced, pilot projects of community based comprehensive public health interventions will be supported. How will it be achieved? • Only soft measures are supported in this programme which has a unique and innovative character, as it focuses on developing new models for health governance reform and testing these at district (“Powiat”) level through pilot projects which will be chosen in a restricted call for proposals. • A pre-defined project will support the activities of the programme through the development of models and reports. • The programme foresees the establishment of a cross-sectoral strategy for reducing social inequalities in health, and public health trainings. In addition, the programme will implement community based health promotion and disease prevention programmes. How will bilateral relations be strengthened? The programme will be implemented in partnership with the Norwegian Directorate of Health and other donor project partners from Norway, drawing on the expertise of entities such as the National Knowledge Centre for the Health Services and the Institute of Public Health to stimulate the exchange of knowledge and lessons learned from similar reforms. What are the partnership opportunities? The programme will foster partnerships at project level between the Norwegian regional and local communities and the Polish local communities to promote the exchange of experience between Norwegian and Polish experts. Project promoters will be encouraged to develop partnerships with Norwegian entities. Who can apply for funding under this programme? Local government units (“Powiats”) are eligible applicants under the restricted call for the pilot-projects.