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A major government review of health inequalities in England released today said that dramatic social gaps are still a dominant feature in the country.
The 'Fair Societies, Healthy Lives' review, chaired by Professor Sir Michael Marmot said the government must promote policies to tackle inequalities related to illness; particularly income, education, employment, and neighbourhood circumstances.
Recommendations to meet better health policy objectives stressed the importance of local government, the NHS, and private sectors stating effective local delivery systems focused on health equity in all policies are necessary for social justice for all.
In response to the estimated financial costs of recommendations made by the Review, Marmot said: “Doing nothing is not an economic option. The human cost is also enormous – 2.5 million years of life potentially lost to health inequalities by those dying prematurely each year in England.”
Reducing health inequalities would also carry economic benefits by reducing deficits due to illness such as productivity loss, reduced tax revenue and increased welfare payments.
The review explained that the lower a person’s social position, the worse his or her health. It stressed that action must be taken to change this.
It was reported that focusing on the most disadvantaged groups would not reduce health inequalities sufficiently claiming that policies must be universal and proportional to all social classes and individuals.
Strategies revolved around increased expenditure over developmental years of children, access to higher levels of education working with the removal of social gradient systems in schools, and the encouragement of the business sector to adhere to equality guidance and legislation.
"Having insufficient money to lead a healthy life is a highly significant cause of health inequalities" it said.
And the report stressed the importance for government to establish a better Minimum Income for Healthy Living (MIHL) to reduce gaps between social classes.
The MIHL calculates the level of income needed for adequate nutrition, physical activity, housing, social interactions, transport, medical care, and hygiene.
Other policy recommendations included the creation and development of healthy communities and the prioritisation of strengthening the role and impact of ill-health prevention.
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