OECD/WHO - Poverty and health guidelines ---------------------------------------- The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and WHO have recently jointly published Poverty and Health in the Develop- ment Assistance Committee - DAC Guidelines and Reference Series. For more information on the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) please visit: http://www.oecd.org/EN/about/0,,EN-about-notheme-2-no-no-no-0,00.html Abstract of Guidelines in English at: http://www.oecd.org/EN/longabstract/0,,EN-longabstract-notheme-2-no-15-22471-0,00.html Guidelines in Spanish: http://www.oecd.org/pdf/M00040000/M00040357.pdf Guidelines in Portuguese: http://www.oecd.org/pdf/M00040000/M00040720.pdf This DAC Reference Document dedicated to health and poverty in develop- ing countries expands on the DAC Guidelines on Poverty Reduction and provides a set of policy recommendations to a broad range of develop- ment agency staff working on policy and operations. It provides a framework for action within the health system, and beyond it, through policies in other sectors and through global initiatives. In developing counties, breaking the vicious cycle of poverty and ill health is an essential condition for economic development. This document outlines a pro-poor health approach that: * Gives priority to promoting, protecting and improving the health of the poor; * Includes the development of pro-poor health systems, with equitable financing mechanisms; * Encompasses policies in areas that have a crucial impact on the health of poor people (education, nutrition, water and sanitation); * Is integrated in country-led poverty reduction strategies and health sector programmes; * Takes into account global public goods and policy coherence concerns, including health surveillance, R&D in poverty-related diseases, trade policy issues regarding drugs and vaccines, and migration.