Overview

The WHO vision of Health for All has not been achieved and a tsunami of determinants are having adverse impacts on health and equity in Europe. This tsunami has been described as a polycrisis with complex and interacting factors. There are reversals in previous gains, a global pandemic, growing inequities, environmental breakdown, wars, financial crises, existential loneliness and social disconnection, and a global refugee crisis. Recently policies and practices centred on inclusion and equity that seemed established have been undermined. This article argues the need for a transformation towards fairer systems that prioritise people and planetary wellbeing over economic growth at all costs.