Following the WHO Commission's 2008 report on social determinants of health, the UK Government commissioned Professor Marmot, director of the International Institute for Society and Health, to lead a strategic review of health inequalities in England.
Delegates heard the findings of Fair society, healthy lives claimed that social and economic arrangements are at the root of health inequalities, and that a review of these arrangements must be made across society as a whole, not just focused on ‘the poorest of the poor.’
Three dimensions
Professor Marmot said that the three dimensions of health inequalities are material, psychosocial and political empowerment.
He stated his belief that economic policy would ‘hit the buffers’ unless both the implications of high mortality rates and implications on disability-free life expectancy, particularly as a consequence of policies to ease pressure on the pension burden, were addressed across all income groups.
Budget
When asked about his views on yesterday’s Budget announcements, Professor Marmot replied that he was "nervous", and that the question asked should not be "how much could you take from benefits? but what will be the effect on people’s lives?" He emphasised concerns about whether the changes to tax, specifically VAT would prove to be regressive.
In response to questions about the likelihood of the report being ‘buried’, Professor Marmot indicated that there had been private assurances from Government and that there was also very good local take up, with 30 areas already developing plans for implementing the report’s recommendations.
Professor Marmot concluded: “We have an ideology of a fair a society, but the review delivers practical means of achieving the goal of reducing inequality through a fairer society.”
Download the Marmot report, Fair society, healthy lives
Conference media
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