The social determinants of health: is there a role for health promotion foundations?
OBJECTIVE
If they are to respond effectively to health inequities, organisations involved in health promotion need to refocus on the social determinants of health (SDH) and the distribution of resources for health.


METHODS
This paper examines the potential of health promotion foundations (HPFs), a semi-autonomous arm of the state, to act at several policy and program intervention points to address the SDH and reduce health inequities.


CONCLUSIONS
The public purpose, enterprise and innovation potential of health promotion foundations provides them with unique capacity to respond to SDH. In the complex and contested policy environment surrounding action on the determinants of health, the role that foundations can most usefully play is that of a change agent in a broader social movement seeking health equity.
Mouy
Barb
B
Victorian Health Promotion Foundation, Carlton South, Victoria, Australia. bmouy@vichealth.vic.gov.au
Barr
Ali
A
D001315:Australia; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D005582:Foundations; D006291:Health Policy; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D011203:Poverty; D011640:Public Policy; D012380:Role; D012922:Social Change; D012931:Social Environment; D012935:Social Justice; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors