| In English
|
The TEROKA project aims to develop a knowledge base and tools to
promote the attainment of the objective of the Health 2015 public
health programme for reducing health inequalities.
The overall status of health in Finland has improved over the past
decades, and Finns live longer than earlier. However, not all
population groups have benefited from the development equally and
socioeconomic differences in life expectancy have increased.
White-collar workers are healthier than blue-collar workers, and people
in employment are healthier than unemployed people. High-income people
with the highest educational level are healthier than low-income people
with only a basic education. In many health risks, the differences
between the socioeconomic groups are growing.
Among the best ways of increasing the level of health among Finns is
to reduce health inequalities between population groups so that the
health of the more disadvantaged groups approaches that of the more
advantaged groups. The reduction of health inequalities between
population groups is a central goal in Finnish health policy and one of
the key targets of the national Health 2015 public health programme.
The TEROKA project aims to develop a knowledge base and tools to
promote the attainment of the objective of the Health 2015 public
health programme for reducing health inequalities.
TEROKA's main aims
- streghten the knowledge base and follow-up on health inequalities and disseminate information
- chart and promote co-operation needed for reducing health inequalities
- encourage policies on tackling health inequalities as well as practical measures
- advance the use of health impact assessment as a means for health and social policy attempting to reduce health inequalities
TEROKA's action to realise these aims
- compile and publish reports on trends in health inequalities
- maintain and develop internet services, produce educational material and provide presentations and lectures
- in co-operation with partners, develop and assess national,
regional and local operation models aiming to reduce health
inequalities
- explore possibilities to reduce heath inequalities by means of health impact assessment
- gather material for the basis of a strategy and action plan for reducing health inequalities
- build practical models for regional health inequality follow-ups
The TEROKA group consists of experts on health differences with a
variety of academic backgrounds including epidemiology, health services
research, social policy, medical sociology and nutritional science. The
practical work is carried out byt the project group, which has members
from the National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) and the Finnish
Institute of Occupational Health (FIOH).
The work is supported by a steering group consisting of the senior
management of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, THL,
FIOH, the Finnish Centre for Health Promotion and the Association of
Finnish Local and Regional Authorities.
Updated 7.1.2009
|
|
