Addressing social determinants of health in South Africa: the journey continues

Abstract

With the recent change from the Millennium Development Goals to the 17 new Sustainable Development Goals, the focus of the global development agenda is expanding: there is attention on a broader set of social determinants and, importantly, a specific sensitivity to equity, which could have a substantial effect on health. Addressing social determinants is a cornerstone in the National Department of Health’s Primary Health Care Re-engineering Strategy, and an approach that is embedded in the country’s National Development Plan. However, the translation of this policy commitment to programmatic action at different levels in the health system and in partnership with other sectors remains elusive.