How the IDH Framework Is Reshaping Global Indigenous Health Policy

The Indigenous Determinants of Health (IDH) Framework was launched in 2023 to bridge a critical gap. It aimed to connect recognition of Indigenous leadership with a deeper understanding of health, environment, and interconnectedness. The framework also introduced Indigeneity as a key determinant of health, encompassing 33 specific risk and protective factors affecting Indigenous Peoples. In 2023, the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues began urging member states and UN agencies to adopt the IDH Framework and the concept of Indigeneity. The following year, the 2024 IDH study built on this foundation by providing practical tools for institutions to integrate Indigenous health determinants into policy and practice. That same year, the UN Convention on Biological Diversity formally referenced the IDH Framework in its Global Plan of Action on Biodiversity and Health through Decision 16/19.

By 2025, the IDH Evaluation Instrument was introduced to assess how well institutions addressed Indigenous health risks, protective factors, and rights in practice. The 2025 WHO Report on the Social Determinants of Health Equity also officially recognised Indigeneity and acknowledged the unique determinants of health for Indigenous Peoples. Additionally, the 2026 IDH study highlighted Indigenous health as a systems integrator, showing how decisions in land, environment, governance, culture, and knowledge systems directly influence Indigenous well-being.

The IDH Framework has also shed light on Indigenous health systems, such as midwifery, which extend beyond clinical childbirth. These systems are rooted in relationships between people, land, knowledge, and spirituality, and are fundamental to community well-being. The IDH Framework has reframed health beyond traditional indicators and gained formal recognition in global policy discussions. It now serves as a tool for institutions to assess and improve their approaches to Indigenous health. The framework continues to highlight the importance of autonomous, rights-based health systems for Indigenous communities.