Paper provides some basic information on selected social determinants of health that had been summarised in the process of creating, detailing, implementing and evaluating the European health policy led by WHO. The social areas discussed are: social gradient, stress, early life experiences, social exclusion, job control at work, unemploy- ment, social support, addiction, food, and transport. We also present a brief summary of policy recommendations related to social determinants of health. This information is relevant both for the development of the health services system and the system of health care and policy in a broader sense.

        Key words: social determinants of health, health policy, health care.