The role of the People's Health Movement in putting the social determinants of health on the global agenda

Abstract

The People's Health Movement (PHM) is a global network of people oriented health professionals and activists, academcis and researchers, campaigners and people organizations that have actively promoted the re-endorsement of the 'Health for All' principles of the Alma Ata Declaration and the importance of social determinants of health and health care. The paper outlines a series of ongoing advocacy initiatives through a PHM - WHO advocacy circle that has consistently since 2001 nudged WHO toreaffirm the Alma Ataprinciples and focus on the social determinants of health. This has led to an evolving dialogue with PHM and the setting up of the WHO commission onsocial determiants of health, in which the PHM, is actively engaged.