Why intersectoral action (ISA)?
Major influences that shape the health of populations and the distribution of health inequities are located outside the health sector. The fact that most of these influences lie outside of the exclusive jurisdiction of the health sector, requires the health sector to engage with other sectors of government and society to address the determinants of health and well-being. The Commission’s final report emphasizes the need for ministries of health to engage in intersectoral action in order to improve health equity. In addition, the way the health system incorporates intersectoral action is defined as one of the main axes for the development of the Primary Health Care strategy that was has been re-launched by WHO to strengthen health systems globally (see World Health Report 2008 below).
