Stakeholders’ attitudes towards intersectoral collaboration in the area of health inequalities

Abstract

This article focuses on inter-sectoral collaboration in the area of health inequalities by implementing health in all policies approach. The aim of the study was to assess the attitudes of the specialists of different ministries and institutions subordinated to the Ministry of Health towards inter-sectoral collaboration in health inequalities. A cross sectional questionnaire survey was performed in March–April, 2015. Based on the results, the most of specialists of the health and non-health sectors noted about close collaboration with institutions operating in the same and different areas in order to implement institutional actions, however, specialists of both sectors rarely reported institutional collaboration in the area of health inequalities. Specialists of the health sector emphasized strong institutional collaboration within the health sector in health
inequalities, besides, they collaborated with social, education and environmental sectors. Non-health sector institutions were involved in strong collaboration with social sector moreover they collaborated with justice and education sectors. The main forms of intersectoral collaboration in reducing health inequalities were participation in working groups, commissions or committees and development of strategic documents or legislation.