Social Determinants of Health

Abstract The health of populations is related to features of society and its social and economic organization. This crucial fact provides the basis for effective policy-making for improving population health. While there is, understandably, much concern regarding the appropriate provision and financing of health services as well as ensuring that the nature of the services provided is based on the best evidence of effectiveness, health is a matter that goes beyond the provision of health services. Policies pursued by many branches of government and by the private sector, both nationally and locally, exert a powerful influence on health — and this book shows the direction in which we should be going. Just as…