Overview of Initiatives Selection:

The following case summaries of diverse three programs targeting health disparities include a government program, a private initiative, and a non-profit venture. In addition, these selected synopses represent a geographic cross-section.

GKEN initiatives are organized into four categories: government, for-profit, traditional non-profit, and business-driven non-profit. Cases are selected to fulfill GKEN’s founding principles representing:

• Private policy/action (that which can be done by organizations without governmental action) over direct influence of public policy
• Established and early-stage programs.
• Developed and developing nations.
• Evidence based best practices and effective emerging better practices.
• Focused on wellness.
• Measurable outcomes.
• Patient/consumer focus.

Listing of Initiatives

The National Action Plan to Reduce Health Inequalities outlines proposals for strategic policy definitions and identifies the most important measures to reduce socioeconomic health inequalities in Finland. Click here to read the full synopsis.

The University of Massachusetts Medical Center (UMMC) maintains a system whereby interpreter services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days per week to help UMMC providers communicate with persons of LEP or persons who are DHH, at no cost to the patient. Click here to read the full synopsis.

Oxfam International is a confederation of 13 country-based organizations located throughout the world who seek to bring about lasting change by improving health. Oxfam works directly with communities to influence decision makers and ensure that disadvantaged groups can improve their lives and livelihoods and have a say in decisions that affect them. Click here to read the full synopsis.