Recent English research on volunteering highlights the analytical value of drilling down into small-scale neighbourhood-based analyses to better understand the dynamics of poor communities. More and more research, including projects in which the Wellesley Institute is involved, focuses on how variations in community structure and connections, access to services and other social determinants in local […]
WHO On The Social Determinants of Health
The World Health Organization's European Office continues to provide comprehensive research and analysis on how a social determinants of health approach can be better incorporated into state policy. It supports a WHO Collaborating centre for Policy Research on Social Determinants of Health at the University of Liverpool in England. Recent reports include a discussion paper […]
Health Equity Into Policy Action
Recently, I spoke on health equity into policy action at the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. This was the first of a series of policy conversations they are planning to have, and it was very interesting to talk to management and policy staff from across the Ministry. My main point was that, even though […]
Conference: International Union for Health Promotion and Education in Vancouver
Several Wellesley staff presented or participated in the recent conference of the International Union for Health Promotion and Education in Vancouver. It was a huge conference with practitioners and experts from around the world. Among key themes were the pervasive damage of health disparities, the need for comprehensive government policies and action to address them, […]
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Reducing Health Inequities through Better Health Promotion
The Victorian Health Promotion Foundation in the state of Victoria, Australia has recently released an outline on reducing health inequities through better health promotion. People, Places, Processes: Reducing Health Inequalities Through Balanced Health Promotion Approaches provides a a good overview of the health equity lens, and elements of a strategic framework, analytical review and workbook […]
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"An Introduction to Health Policy" by Toba Bryant, PhD
This book is not a compendium of every health policy or health policy initiative undertaken in Canada. Rather, the book explores some of the key developments in health policy in Canada and elsewhere. It does not see health policy as a process that simply requires management of health care facilities and human resources. It is […]
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Communications Tools
Building on the work done by the AOHC, the Wellesley Institute commissioned a number of generic communications tools to help advocates effectively incorporate Second Stage ideas in health reform debates. We hope progressive health organizations will find them useful. We take a creative commons approach to this kind of knowledge mobilization. Please use these tools […]
Driving Health Equity for Kids: From the Earliest Years to Transforming the System
Health inequalities faced by children are storing up a lifetime of problems. I recently spoke at a conference on Achieving Health Equity For Kids: Whatever It Takes organized by the Hospital for Sick Children. I set out a roadmap to drive the fundamental changes needed to reduce the health disparities kids face across the province […]
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Rising Physician and Drug Costs Through an Equity Lens
The latest Canadian Institute for Health Information report on health care expenditures highlighted that hospitals, drugs and doctors are the largest components of overall spending. Spending has been increasing fastest in physician services and drugs. Some media discussion has correctly highlighted how the incentives built into fee-for-service payment – to see as many patients as […]
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Welcome to Ontario – Don’t Get Sick
Eliminating health disparities is a complex challenge. But not all of it: some solutions are quick and immediate. Ontario denies access to OHIP for new immigrants for three months. This is discriminatory and dangerous to a vulnerable population – and easily fixable. I am supporting the Right to Health Care Coalition’s demand to remove the […]