Institute of Health Equity

About Institute of Health Equity :

« The UCL Institute of Health Equity was established in 2011 and is led by Professor Sir Michael Marmot.

Health inequalities are the systematic differences in health between social groups. Where they are judged to be avoidable differences they are inequitable, unfair. Putting them right is a matter of social justice. Reducing these inequities requires actions to improve the social determinants of health – the social, economic, political, physical and cultural conditions that shape our lives and our behaviours. 

The IHE leads and collaborates on work that addresses the social determinants of health and improves health equity. Two key pieces of work provide the basis for IHE’s approach:  

• WHO Commission on Social Determinants of Health (2005-2008) 
• Fair Society Healthy Lives: The Marmot Review (2010)

Since 2011 we have worked with a range of organisations and places across the UK and around the world to tackle health inequalities. Our work involves :  

Developing the evidence base

We work with local, national and international organisations to ensure up-to-date and high-quality research evidence is used in the design and implementation of policies and practices to reduce health inequalities.  We do this by: 

• translating evidence into practice  
• identifying gaps in research and filling the gaps where possible 
• monitoring trends in health inequalities and social determinants of health  
• holding governments and organisations to account for action on health inequalities. 

Developing actions that work 

 We work to shape the development and delivery of interventions in Marmot Places and in organisations that have impacts on health to ensure they have health equity at their heart and address the social determinants of health. We strengthen the health equity system to ensure prioritisation of health equity, accountability, capacity investments and monitoring and evaluation. 

Advocacy 

We:  

• disseminate research evidence and best practice through our work with places, organisations, our website and with the Health Equity Network 

• work with social and traditional media and present our evidence to a range of organisations, from large global meetings to local community groups. »