Foreword

Since its inception in 1948, the World Health Organization (WHO) has been a strong advocate for equity in health, working to advance the highest attainable standard of health as a fundamental right of every person. Health equity continues to be central to the WHO mission and mandate.

Reducing and eliminating health inequities is key to attaining the health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the promise to “leave no one behind”. This includes SDG 3, to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages, and SDG 10, to reduce inequalities within and across countries.

The WHO Fourteenth General Programme of Work, approved by Member States at the World Health Assembly in 2024, aims to support countries to promote, provide and protect the health and well-being of their people. It acknowledges the need for an “exceptional focus on substantially enhancing equity in health and care service coverage and access”.

WHO work to advance health equity is anchored in science, using the best available evidence to understand, inform and refine public health actions. Moving forward on commitments to advance health equity requires robust health inequality monitoring systems.

Health inequality monitoring: harnessing data to advance health equity is a key addition to the suite of WHO tools and resources that support capacity-building for health inequality monitoring. It synthesizes decades of research to provide an up-to-date compilation of foundational concepts and emerging developments.

A few aspects of this book stand out. First, it addresses the application of health inequality monitoring in diverse contexts and environments. Readers will explore health inequality monitoring in emergency contexts, refugee and migrant populations, rural and remote areas, and high- and low-income countries. The book also covers social determinants of health, health expenditure, climate change, urbanization and other topics.

Second, the book details a range of technical content related to data sources and summary measures for inequality monitoring. It includes forward-looking chapters that address emerging sources and methods, giving readers of all skill levels and experiences a wealth of information.

Third, the book situates monitoring activities in the broader landscape of evidence-informed decision-making. It describes the importance of integrating health inequality monitoring into health information systems, and how to use findings alongside other forms of evidence.

Fourth, the book is accessible to a wide range of readers. It can be used as a reference for years to come, as we seek to accelerate progress towards the SDGs and prepare for the post-SDG era.

This book is a valuable contribution to the field of health inequality monitoring and to moving towards a world in which health is not a luxury for some, but a right for all.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
Director-General
World Health Organization