Explore health equity through the lenses of economics, policy, and global health challenges - Solutions

Health inequities are the result of many and varied factors that are often outside people’s direct control. It is not enough to identify the big issues that need addressing but to identify a range of tools, actions, investments, policies and practical solutions for improving health and well-being and reducing inequalities.

Health inequities are not inevitable; they can be reduced or prevented. Solutions are required that address the unmet needs of populations made vulnerable by systemic inequity. Real health benefits can be attained at an affordable cost and within resource constraints if effective strategies are adopted.

Healthcare alone cannot close the health inequity gap. Health inequities are multi-faceted, often demonstrating the interlinked nature of multiple factors, not least avoidable social inequalities in factors such as where we live, our household earnings, and our opportunities for good work.

This complexity means there is no simple ‘one size fits all’ solution to reduce health inequities. Rather, efforts to reduce health inequities requires action on all the social determinants of health – the five essential conditions – across the life course. As such, actions in all areas of government policy affect health.

Coordinated policy action on the determinants of health, combined with well-designed and implemented governance and policy approaches can have effect on 1) reducing the health gap; 2) improving overall population health and well-being; and 3) achieving inclusive and sustainable economic growth and prosperity for all.

The Programme for Government commits the Welsh Government to ‘move to eliminate inequality in all its forms’. Making the case and advocating for investment in well-being and health equity are essential to enable evidence-informed, sustainable and fair policy and action for the benefit of people, communities, societies, the economy and the planet. The scale and nature of the challenge calls for a co-ordinated, whole-sector response, making a strong case for community-centred approaches to public health and whole-system approaches to health equity.

How public policy and decision making responds to persistent and new challenges in uncertain times will rely heavily on the ability to shape responses to future trends. The challenge is how to implement change across a complex system so that it endures over time.

Futures work is about thinking and planning for the long term. It can help when considering the challenges we are likely to face in Wales that could influence and shape the future, as well as those that are unforeseen or uncertain, while supporting the development of policies or strategies that will prove robust in the face of many different futures. The Future Trends Report 2021 and associated Evidence Pack can support decision-makers understand Wales’ future better and make more informed decisions for current and future generations. The Three Horizons Toolkit can also help public bodies to think and plan for the longer term. Efforts to consider what inequality in a future Wales might look like can be supported by the framework established by the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015, which compels us to think differently about our approach to health inequalities. The Future Generations Commissioner has set out case studies and big ideas from Wales and further afield on what individuals, communities and public bodies are doing to meet the well-being goals.

Resources which are solutions focused and aim to increase health equity in Wales, the UK or international are available here.

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Page last reviewed: 21st January 2026