Download the final 'Closing the Gap' publication: Taking Action on Health Equity.
This publication contains summaries of what each of the 21 ´Closing the Gap´ partners are doing to address health inequalities in their countries, as well as the conclusions and recommendations of this 3-year initiative.
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[This section provides the key documents on health inequalities published on a national level in Germany in the past decade]
Sozialgesetzbuch V §20, Abs. 1 (social law)
This paragraph of the social law foresees that the statutory sickness funds should provide measures for primary preventions. These measures should improve the health status of the overall population and specifically contribute to tackling health inequalities. (1999, 2004)
The federal government has decided to publish reports on poverty and wealth in Germany. The first report came out in 2001 and the second in spring 2005. It is called 'Zweiter Armuts- und Reichtumsbericht der Bundesregierung. Lebenslagen in Deutschland' (National Report on Poverty and Wealth) and launched by the Ministry for Health and Social Security
An extensive report of expert opinions has been written by the Advisory Council for the Concerted Action in Health Care. This was established by, and reports to, the German Federal Ministry of Health, which facilitated a detailed discussion on health inequalities in the April 2005 report for the first time. It is called 'Koordination und Qualität im Gesundheitswesen' (Coordination and Quality in the Health Care System).
The National Action Plan against Poverty and Social Exclusion, NAP’incl 2003-2005, describes major trends and challenges. It outlines the steps that will be taken in Germany in the next two years to increase social integration according to the Lisbon strategy. It also describes the progress in the implementation of the policies and measures portrayed in the first National Action Plan, NAP’incl 2001-2003. Nationaler Aktionsplan zur Bekämpfung von Armut und sozialer Ausgrenzung 2003 - 2005, Aktualisierung 2004 (National Action Plan to Tackle Poverty and Social Exclusion 2003 - 2005) Deutscher Bundestag (government). Drucksache 15/3270. Berlin 2004
Ministry for Women, Youth, Family and Health of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia (2001): Resolution of the 10th Health Conference of North Rhine-Westphalia: Social status and health.
This is an example of the regional policy from Nordrhein-Westfalen. The consensus paper of all the major players in the health system focuses on the topics of gender and social inequalities in health. There are lot of common suggestions for a coordinated approach to tackle health inequalities. The consensus paper tries to foster a greater interesectoral collaboration between the social care and the health care system.
[Here you can find reference(s) to book(s) and other major research publications on Health Inequalities in Germany]