The state of organizational health literacy: addressing gaps and future directions

Abstract

Advancing health literacy requires coordinated efforts across sectors, yet intersectoral collaboration remains a challenge. This perspective article critically examines the current state of organizational health literacy, identifying four key intervention levels: integrating health literacy into formal education, implementing health literacy assessments, developing targeted interventions for vulnerable populations, and improving accessibility to health resources. However, existing frameworks fail to address the interoperability between sectors, particularly the persistent disconnect between education and healthcare, which hampers public health progress. Organizational health literacy is primarily addressed through national strategic plans tailored to contextual needs, yet academic research in this area remains scarce and rarely adopts a multisectoral approach. Furthermore, a key challenge lies in the inadequate evaluation of organizational health literacy initiatives. Without measurable outcomes and systematic assessment, it is difficult to determine their real-world impact or to adapt them to diverse contexts. Strengthening the role of healthcare professionals across sectors, combined with structural reforms to foster intersectoral collaboration, is crucial for enhancing health literacy outcomes. Despite growing recognition of organizational health literacy’s importance, its integration into policy and practice remains fragmented. The lack of structured pathways linking education and healthcare limits meaningful cooperation and hinders the development of comprehensive, integrated interventions. Addressing these gaps requires a systemic approach that bridges sectors and ensures that health literacy becomes a fundamental component of both public health and education systems.