Healthy Societies
According to the European Commission's EU platform for evidence-based policymaking, health-related inequalities are widening. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the unequal exposure to health risks in populations and these inequalities are likely to continue and possibly widen. The pandemic also demonstrated the central role of public health in societies to function and thrive. Indeed, as is also acknowledged by the EU Action Plan on Integration and Inclusion, limited or difficult access to healthcare services can significantly hamper social inclusion in all areas. Moreover, understanding and anticipating demands on the healthcare system, meeting needs better and addressing health and social inequalities, directly improve the resilience of care systems.
To achieve better health outcomes, and more efficient use of health services, regional and local authorities are acting on areas such as
- information on rights regarding mainstream healthcare services,
including mental healthcare, prenatal and post-natal healthcare - intercultural and diversity management training to healthcare professionals
- tackling discrimination
- designing culturally sensitive services
- gather insights, inputs, tools, ideas on the development of climate resilient, inclusive, innovative, cohesive, thriving places, spaces, territories
- generate multistakeholder conversations around territorial development in the face of societal challenges
- disseminate tools, findings, practices developed in the context of the EU-Belong project, which may be of use to different stakeholders and institutions across wider Europe
- amplify the visibility of relevant resources, practices, tools
- facilitate peer-learning and peer-to-peer assistance
