Health Equity

Theoretical framework

The theoretical framework is inspired by Amartya Sen’s capability approach and the paradigm of sustainable human development, which conceive health as a central component of people’s real freedoms and opportunities.

The concept of health agency – understood as people’s ability and commitment to achieving valued health goals – is of strategic importance in our work. Health agency does not depend exclusively on personal resources, but is closely linked to the accessibility of health services and the opportunity of using them in a timely, appropriate and needs-based manner.

The work of the Health Equity Unit adopts approaches that value the active role of individuals and communities in their health. The Unit recognises empowerment and participation as key elements in improving the effectiveness of public health policies, services and interventions.

Main activities

• Applied research on health equity and social determinants, using quantitative and qualitative methods
• Analysis of the accessibility and equity of health services, with a focus on inequalities related to socio-economic status, gender, age, disability, migration and ethnic background, and territorial characteristics
• Support for the design and implementation of public health policies and interventions
• Co-creation of public health interventions, including training courses, prevention campaigns and information tools
• Evaluation of health and social-health policies, programmes and services
• Impact assessment and social impact assessment of public health policies and interventions
• Stakeholder mapping and governance analysis from a multi-level perspective, with a focus on coordination between health and social services
• Training and capacity building for health professionals, decision-makers, third sector organisations and communities
• Pre-feasibility studies and designs for community-based financial protection schemes, with a focus on sustainability, equity and inclusion

The Health Equity Unit integrates three perspectives into its analyses

The holistic One Health approach: recognising the close interdependence between human health, the environment and ecosystems, the Unit adopts a vision focused on sustainability and intergenerational responsibility.

The multidimensional perspective: health conditions and access to health services are influenced by the interaction of multiple dimensions – including gender, age, socio-economic conditions, disability, migration background, legal status and territorial characteristics – which combine and reinforce one another. The Unit analyses these complex and persistent forms of vulnerability through an intersectional lens.

Artificial intelligence, digitalisation and personalisation of care and prevention: the Unit analyses these innovations not only as technical or clinical solutions, but as phenomena deeply intertwined with ethical, social and cultural dimensions including issues of social acceptability , and with potentially significant effects on inequalities in access and health outcomes.