Details of the event "Preparatory Conference of Experts: Moving forward Equity in Health"

Through the health equity priority of the Spanish EU Presidency, an Experts' Conference and Ministeral Panel on "Moving Forward Equity in Health" were scheduled for 21 and 22 April 2010 in Madrid. Unfortunately, these events have been cancelled due to the impact of the Icelandic volcano eruption on travel conditions across Europe.

These events aimed to bring together stakeholders from across the European Union who work on issues salient to the health equity Presidency priority, with eventual conference outcomes informing the ministerial considerations for the elaboration of the Council conclusions and the finalization of a background report for the priority.

While the events are no longer taking place, the Spanish Ministry of Health and Social Policy welcomes comments and suggestions from stakeholders for advancing this priority. This web site features the following sub-sections:

• Agenda of the Experts Conference (with presentations downloadable in PDF format)
• Draft background paper "Moving forward equity in health: Monitoring social determinants of health and the reduction of health inequalities" (discussion version; the final will be issued in June 2010)

Stakeholders are invited to send comments on any aspect of the event presentations or the draft background paper contents. Comments would be particularly appreciated in relation to entry points for increased action in the following four areas:

• Health and equity in all policies (including in relation to global health)
• Monitoring: Information to action
• Addressing the social gradient in health, with proportionate attention to socially vulnerable groups
• Early child development services, including universal access to national health services at EU member state level

Comments can be sent to promocionsalud@msps.es, ideally before 30th April.