National consultation on social determinants of health in PakistanA National Consultation on Social Determinants of Health, arranged by the Planning Commission with WHO collaboration was held from 27 to 29 April 2012 in Bhurban, Punjab, Pakistan.
A total of 30 participants attended the meeting including policy-makers and professionals from the health, planning and related sectors.
The main aim of the Consultation was to sensitize senior and mid-level professionals on this important topic.
The objectives of the Consultation were to:
raise the profile of social determinants of health and health equity in Pakistan
identify key social determinants and challenges for achieving health inequity, using the five WHO policy areas identified at the World Conference on Social Determinants of Health, held in Rio, Brazil, in October 2011, as a framework for discussion and analysis
identify and develop an institutional framework to address these issues.
The workshop that was jointly facilitated by the Planning Commission, and representatives of WHO headquarters, Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean and Pakistan country office.
At the end of the Consultation, these recommendations were made:
- Social determinants of health focal points for the five provinces should be created.
- The Planning Commission, Government of Pakistan, should coordinate the contact group for social determinants of health.
- Provincial consultations should be organized on launching social determinants of health interventions.
- A coordinated framework at federal level should be organized by November 2012.
- A medium term strategic plan should be formulated by Decemeber 2012.
- WHO technical assistance and capacity building for social determinants of health and health equity should be pursued.
