The World Health Organization Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean (WHO/EMRO) convened a Commission on Social Determinants of Health (SDH) in the Eastern Mediterranean Region in 2019. The Commission is jointly convened by WHO/EMRO, the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research (AHPSR) and the Institute for Health Equity at the University College London (IHE/UCL). Professor Sir Michael Marmot is chair of the Commission.

 VIEW: Leaflet about the Commission

VIEW: Handbook for the first expert group meeting EMRO Commission on social determinants of health.

In a statement about the new commission and his appointment as Chair, Professor Marmot wrote: 

I was delighted to be asked by the Director of EMRO to chair the EMR Commission on Social Determinants of Health. The Commission demonstrates a determination by the Director of EMRO and colleagues to take a hugely significant and active role in reducing avoidable health inequalities which, as in other regions, blight the lives of so many in EMR. These health inequalities are not only the result of unequal access to health care, but they arise from inequities in the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age.The EMR Commission will build on the work of the Global Commission on the Social Determinants of Health (2008) and subsequent regional reports in Euro and PAHO. Both regional commissions have added to evidence and supported prioritisation and action on health inequalities. It is expected that the EMR Commission will build knowledge, capacity and ambition on the social determinants of health inequalities and support the regions, member states and stakeholder to take action.

Prof. Marmot and Dr Allen were previously invited to present a commentary (2015) on WHO EMRO | Health priorities and the social determinants of health. The full commentary can be read and downloaded by following this link.